When to plant lettuce in Vancouver

Lettuce is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Vancouver's frost dates of Mar 31.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 3 – Mar 24
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 10 – Mar 31
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Apr 24 – May 9
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Aug 7 – Aug 21
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 28 – Oct 13
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
45 – 60 d
Vancouver's 221-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
MAR 31
NOV 7

Common questions

When can I sow lettuce outdoors in Vancouver?

Direct-sow around early March (Mar 3–Mar 24) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

When will lettuce be ready to harvest in Vancouver?

Expect to harvest from around late April (Apr 24–May 9) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.

When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Vancouver?

Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 3–Mar 24) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.

When can I transplant lettuce outdoors in Vancouver?

Transplant outdoors around early March (Mar 10–Mar 31) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

Can I plant lettuce in autumn in Vancouver?

Yes — Vancouver supports a second, autumn sowing of lettuce around early August (Aug 7–Aug 21), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Vancouver?

Vancouver has roughly 221 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 85/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.