From seed tray to harvest basket
Planting guides, growing tips, and pest notes tuned to our 8a (functionally 8a/8b) Fraser Valley season.
Planting Guide
Timed around an average last frost of early-to-mid April and first frost of late October to early November.
| Crop | Start Indoors | Transplant / Direct Sow | Typical Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mid-February | Transplant mid-May, after frost risk passes | Late July - September |
| Peppers | Late February | Transplant late May, once soil is warm | August - September |
| Peas | - | Direct sow early March | June |
| Lettuce & greens | - | Direct sow March - August (succession) | 4-6 weeks after sowing |
| Carrots & beets | - | Direct sow April - July | 10-12 weeks after sowing |
| Squash & zucchini | Early May (optional) | Direct sow / transplant late May | August - September |
| Garlic | - | Plant cloves October | Following July |
| Kale & brassicas | April | Transplant May, again in July for fall crop | June - November |
Warm the soil with black plastic or a cloche before transplanting heat-lovers like tomatoes and squash — our spring soil stays cool longer than the air temperature suggests.
Slugs, cabbage moths, and aphids are the regulars here. Floating row covers on brassicas and evening slug patrols handle most of it without spraying.
Pick beans and zucchini every couple of days once they start — both slow production if left to get oversized. Tomatoes can ripen indoors if fall rains threaten to split them on the vine.