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When to Plant Celtuce in Thompson, MB

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Thompson, Manitoba is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 25 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 127 days.

At an elevation of 728 feet, Thompson receives approximately 11.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly black chernozem soil. Summer highs average 66ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Celtuce to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celtuce successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Thompson, MB (Zone 3b) Short season
127 days
Last Spring Frost May 25
127 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Thompson Soil Profile

Soil Type

Black Chernozem

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Celtuce Planting Timeline โ€” Thompson, MB

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ Apr 27
Transplant Outdoors May 25 May 25 โ€“ Jun 8
Direct Sow May 18 May 18 โ€“ Jun 8
Harvest July 27 Jul 27 โ€“ Sep 7
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 โ€“ Jul 21

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 3b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

127 days in Thompson

Growing Tips for Thompson

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Thompson, MB?

Thompson is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 25. Plan your Celtuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Thompson, MB?

Thompson, Manitoba is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 25 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Thompson gardeners in Zone 3b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Thompson, MB. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.