Bellingham, Washington planting calendar and frost dates
Bellingham is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 31 and the first fall frost around October 30, giving about 211 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 31
- Typical first frost
- October 30
- Frost-free season
- 211 days
Frost dates in Bellingham
Last spring frost
- March 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 31Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 18Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 17Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 211 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 4 and returns around November 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bellingham International Airport, 4.8 miles W of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Bellingham
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers, zinnias
April
Start indoors: basil, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, zinnias
May
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, ginger, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue
June
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard
August
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Bellingham
All 3 of Bellingham's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Bellingham International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 98226, 98229, and 8b in 98225.
Planting dates for popular crops in Bellingham
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Cilantro | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | — |
| Basil | Apr 30 to May 14 | Jun 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19 to 26 | Jul 10 to 17 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
| Onions | Dec 9 to Jan 20 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 21 to Jun 4 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 21 to Jun 4 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Peppers | Apr 2 to 30 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 10 to 31 | Aug 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jul 30 to Aug 6 | — |
| Watermelons | May 14 to 28 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Zucchini | May 21 to Jun 4 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 13 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 14 to Sep 11 |
| Peas | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Aug 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Feb 17 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 3 to 10 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 18 to Nov 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 18 to Oct 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
Nearby cities
- Marysville, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 24
- Everett, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 24
- Bothell, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Shoreline, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 8
- Kirkland, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 8
- Redmond, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Bellingham
Questions
When is the last frost in Bellingham?
Around March 31 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Bellingham International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 18.
What planting zone is Bellingham in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bellingham?
Start seeds indoors April 23 to May 7 and set plants out June 18 to July 2.
When is the first frost in Bellingham?
Around October 30 in a typical year, and before October 12 about 1 year in 10.