When to plant onion in Vancouver
Onion is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Vancouver's frost dates of Feb 27.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Dec 19 – Jan 9
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 21 – May 12
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 20 – Aug 9
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
90 – 110 d
Vancouver's 274-day season leaves this much room.
Onion 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
FROST
FROST
FEB 27
NOV 25
Common questions
When will onion be ready to harvest in Vancouver?
Expect to harvest from around mid July (Jul 20–Aug 9) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When should I start onion seeds indoors in Vancouver?
Start seeds indoors around mid December (Dec 19–Jan 9) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When can I transplant onion outdoors in Vancouver?
Transplant outdoors around late April (Apr 21–May 12) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in Vancouver?
Vancouver has roughly 274 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow onion to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow onion 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.