Frost dates for Cheney, WA
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 30
typical year
Safe to plant
July 13
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 4
typical year
Growing season
94 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Spinach | – | Apr 18 – May 9 | Jul 10 – 24 |
| Lettuce | – | May 2 – 23 | Jul 10 – 24 |
| Radishes | – | May 2 – Jun 13 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Onions | – | May 2 – 16 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 9 – 30 | Jun 12 – 26 |
| Beets | – | May 2 – 16 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
| Kale | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 2 – 16 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
| Broccoli | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 16 – 30 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
| Cabbage | Mar 7 – 21 | May 2 – 16 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 24 – Aug 14 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Peppers | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Cucumbers | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Zucchini | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Sweet corn | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Basil | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | July 13 | May 30 | May 9 |
| Fall frost before | August 21 | September 4 | September 19 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around May 5 (May 22 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 15.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.
Cheney, Spangle
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station SPOKANE 17 SSW, WA US (USW00004136), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 2 zip codes, all within 9 miles:
99004, 99031
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.