When to plant winter squash / pumpkin in Vancouver
Winter squash / Pumpkin is frost-tender, so every date keys off Vancouver's last spring frost of Mar 31.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 29 – Apr 19
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 6 – Jun 27
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Aug 30 – Oct 4
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
85 – 120 d
Vancouver's 221-day season leaves this much room.
Winter squash / Pumpkin 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
HARVEST
MAR 31
NOV 7
Common questions
When can I sow winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Vancouver?
Direct-sow around early June (Jun 6–Jun 27) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.
When will winter squash / pumpkin be ready to harvest in Vancouver?
Expect to harvest from around late August (Aug 30–Oct 4) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
When should I start winter squash / pumpkin seeds indoors in Vancouver?
Start seeds indoors around late March (Mar 29–Apr 19) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
When can I transplant winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Vancouver?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 6–Jun 27) in Vancouver, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.
How long is the growing season in Vancouver?
Vancouver has roughly 221 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow winter squash / pumpkin to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow winter squash / pumpkin 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. 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.