Frost dates for Cushman Powerhouse #2, 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
March 24
typical year
Safe to plant
April 17
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 15
typical year
Growing season
235 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 | – | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 24 – Apr 7 | Oct 4 – 18 |
| Onions | – | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 3 – 17 | – |
| Carrots | – | Mar 3 – 24 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Beets | – | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Kale | Jan 13 – 27 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Broccoli | Jan 13 – 27 | Mar 10 – 24 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Cabbage | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 4 – 25 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 13 – 27 | Apr 24 – May 8 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 17 – May 8 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 17 – May 15 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 17 – May 8 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 17 – Sep 6 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 17 – May 15 | – |
| Basil | Mar 13 – 27 | Apr 24 – May 1 | – |
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 | April 17 | March 24 | February 26 |
| Fall frost before | October 25 | November 15 | December 8 |
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 February 20 (March 17 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 7.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station CUSHMAN POWERHOUSE #2, WA US (USC00451939), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 5 zip codes, all within 12 miles:
98546, 98548, 98555, 98588, 98592
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.