When to plant lettuce in Vancouver

Lettuce is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Vancouver's frost dates of Feb 27.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Jan 30 – Feb 20
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Feb 6 – Feb 27
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Mar 23 – Apr 7
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Aug 12 – Aug 26
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Oct 3 – Oct 18
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
45 – 60 d
Vancouver's 274-day season leaves this much room.
Lettuce on Vancouver's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FEB 27
NOV 25

Common questions

When can I sow lettuce outdoors in Vancouver?

Direct-sow around late January (Jan 30–Feb 20) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 88%.

When will lettuce be ready to harvest in Vancouver?

Expect to harvest from around late March (Mar 23–Apr 7) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.

When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Vancouver?

Start seeds indoors around late January (Jan 30–Feb 20) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.

When can I transplant lettuce outdoors in Vancouver?

Transplant outdoors around early February (Feb 6–Feb 27) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 88%.

Can I plant lettuce in autumn in Vancouver?

Yes — Vancouver supports a second, autumn sowing of lettuce around mid August (Aug 12–Aug 26), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Vancouver?

Vancouver has roughly 274 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow lettuce to maturity outdoors.

The rule of thumb

Sow lettuce as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Vancouver's frost dates.

Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.