Kent, Washington planting calendar and frost dates
Kent is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 20 and the first fall frost around November 10, giving about 233 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 20
- Typical first frost
- November 10
- Frost-free season
- 233 days
Frost dates in Kent
Last spring frost
- February 27Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 20Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 10Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 233 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 February 25 and returns around November 24.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kent, 2.5 miles N 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 Kent
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: eggplants, ginger, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, zinnias
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, zinnias
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: potatoes
August
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Kent
All 4 of Kent's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Kent, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8b in 98030, 98031, 98042, and 9a in 98032.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98030 | 8b | Kent, 2.5 mi N | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 98031 | 8b | Kent, 2.5 mi N | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 98032 | 9a | Kent, 2.5 mi N | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 98042 | 8b | Kent, 2.5 mi N | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
Kent also supplies the frost dates for Renton and Auburn, so their planting calendars match Kent's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Kent
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 6 to 20 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 23 to Feb 6 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Cilantro | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 20 to 27 | — |
| Basil | Apr 7 to 21 | May 26 to Jun 2 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 4 to 11 | Jul 21 to 28 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Nov 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Nov 28 to Jan 9 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 28 to May 12 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 28 to May 12 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 10 to Apr 7 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Carrots | — | Feb 27 to Mar 20 | Aug 18 to Sep 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 30 to Jul 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Green Beans | — | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 28 to May 12 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 2 to 23 | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 25 to Sep 22 |
| Peas | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Spinach | Feb 6 to 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 4 to 25 | — |
| Zinnias | Feb 20 to 27 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 29 to Nov 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
Nearby cities
- Auburn, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 20
- Renton, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 20
- Federal Way, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Burien, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
- Bellevue, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Tacoma, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Kent
Questions
When is the last frost in Kent?
Around March 20 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Kent. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 8.
What planting zone is Kent in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (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 Kent?
Start seeds indoors March 31 to April 14 and set plants out May 26 to June 9.
When is the first frost in Kent?
Around November 10 in a typical year, and before October 26 about 1 year in 10.