Frost dates for Seattle, 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 8
typical year
Safe to plant
March 29
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 23
typical year
Growing season
259 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 8 – 22 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 25 – Feb 15 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 8 – Mar 22 | Oct 12 – 26 |
| Onions | – | Feb 8 – 22 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 15 – Mar 8 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Beets | – | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Kale | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Broccoli | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Cabbage | Dec 14 – 28 | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 12 – Nov 2 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 1 – 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 5 – 19 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 29 – Apr 26 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 29 – Sep 14 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 29 – Apr 26 | – |
| Basil | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – 12 | – |
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 | March 29 | March 8 | February 13 |
| Fall frost before | November 4 | November 23 | December 16 |
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 11 (March 1 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 11.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 15 towns.
Seattle, Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, Bothell, Mountlake Terrace, Kenmore, Woodinville, Lake Forest Park, Brier, Clyde Hill, Medina, Woodway, Yarrow Point, Hunts Point
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station SEATTLE SAND PT WSFO, WA US (USW00094290), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 31 zip codes, all within 13 miles:
98004, 98005, 98007, 98008, 98011, 98021, 98028, 98033, 98034, 98039, 98043, 98052, 98053, 98072, 98074, 98102, 98103, 98105, 98107, 98109, 98112, 98115, 98117, 98119, 98125, 98133, 98155, 98177, 98195, 98199, 98342
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.