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Seattle, Washington · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Seattle

This month's sowing list for Seattle, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

6 vegetables to sow or plant now

6 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 7, and frost is unlikely after about April 17.

Sow or plant in Seattle in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Cabbage

Direct sow

  • Fava beans
  • Peas

Transplant

  • Cabbage
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Strawberry

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Bush beans
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Pole beans
  • Potato
  • Radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Scallions
  • Spinach
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet corn
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Seattle

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: April to May.

Transplant: May to June.

Pick: August to September.

First pick about 19 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to August.

Best time to start: March to July.

Pick: July to December.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: September to December.

Best time to start: September to December.

Pick: June to July.

First pick about 31 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: March to September.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: June to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: March to August.

Best time to start: March to August.

Pick: June to March.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: May to July.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: January to May and July to September.

Transplant: March to November.

Best time to start: March to November.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 26 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: March to June and October to November.

Best time to start: March to June and October to November.

Pick: July to January.

First pick about 18 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to May.

Direct sow: May.

Transplant: May to June.

Best time to start: May.

Pick: September to October.

First pick about 17 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to July.

Direct sow: May to July.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Seattle

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BasilTPSPabout 9 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Bell pepperTPabout 21 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
BroccoliTPPPPPPPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsTTPPabout 21 weeks
Bush beansSSSabout 9 weeks
CabbagePPTPPPPPPPabout 16 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
CauliflowerTPPTPPabout 16 weeks
CeleriacTTPPPPabout 23 weeks
CeleryTTPPPPPabout 21 weeks
ChivesTSSSSSPabout 9 weeks
CilantroSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
CucumberPSSabout 9 weeks
DillSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
Fava beansSSSSSSSSSabout 21 weeks
GarlicPPPPabout 31 weeks
Hot pepperTPabout 21 weeks
KaleSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
LeekTTPPPPPPabout 19 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
OnionPPTTPPPPPPPabout 26 weeks
ParsleyTSSSSSPabout 8 weeks
ParsnipSSSSSabout 13 weeks
PeasSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 14 weeks
Pole beansSSSabout 11 weeks
PotatoPPPPPPabout 12 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
Runner beansSSSabout 11 weeks
RutabagaSSSSSabout 13 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
SpinachSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPabout 18 weeks
Sweet cornTSSPabout 12 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
TomatoTPPabout 19 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Winter squashTSPabout 17 weeks
ZucchiniTSSSPabout 8 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Seattle season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, carrot, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, pole beans, potato, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, scallions, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: bell pepper, cauliflower, fava beans, hot pepper and rutabaga.

Summer June to August

Time to start: bell pepper, cauliflower, hot pepper, rutabaga and spinach.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cucumber, hot pepper, leek, parsnip, pole beans, potato, runner beans, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, tomato, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: fava beans, garlic and strawberry.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, onion, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, leek, onion and spinach.

Last chance for: garlic.

Any time of year: peas.

Frost in Seattle

Last frost, most years
around April 7
Frost is unlikely after
about April 17
First frost, most years
around November 6
Frost-free days in a year
about 213

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Harder to grow in Seattle

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: cantaloupe, eggplant, okra, sweet potato and watermelon.

Questions about planting in Seattle

What can I plant now in Seattle?

In October, 6 vegetables can be sown or planted in Seattle, including cabbage, fava beans, garlic, onion, peas and strawberry. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Seattle?

In Seattle, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them from May to June. Picking runs from August to September.

When should I plant potatoes in Seattle?

In Seattle, plant potatoes from March to August. The best time to start is from March to July. Picking runs from July to December.

When should I plant garlic in Seattle?

In Seattle, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from June to July.

When is the last frost in Seattle?

In most years the last frost in Seattle comes around April 7. Frost is unlikely after about April 17, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 6.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Seattle?

The quick ones are arugula (about 4 weeks), radish (about 4 weeks), cilantro (about 5 weeks), bok choy (about 6 weeks), beets (about 7 weeks), lettuce (about 7 weeks), scallions (about 7 weeks) and spinach (about 7 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Seattle. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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