Lakewood, Washington planting calendar and frost dates
Lakewood is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 8 and the first fall frost around November 14, giving about 250 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 8
- Typical first frost
- November 14
- Frost-free season
- 250 days
Frost dates in Lakewood
Last spring frost
- February 15Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 31Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 30Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 14Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 2Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 250 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 11 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tacoma #1, 1.6 miles ESE of the city center and 225 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Lakewood shares this station with Tacoma, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Lakewood
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, kale, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: cilantro, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: eggplants, ginger, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, thyme, zinnias
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, green onions, potatoes, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn
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, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, 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, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lakewood
Lakewood's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 8 in 98439 to March 11 in 98498. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98439 | 8b | Tacoma #1, 9.1 mi NNE | Mar 8 | Nov 14 |
| 98498 | 8b | Tacoma Narrows Airport, 7.5 mi N | Mar 11 | Nov 21 |
| 98499 | 8b | Tacoma #1, 1.6 mi ESE | Mar 8 | Nov 14 |
Tacoma #1 also supplies the frost dates for Tacoma, so their planting calendars match Lakewood's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lakewood
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 3 to 17 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 11 to 25 | Mar 1 to 15 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Cilantro | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Apr 10 to 24 | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 5 to 12 | Jul 25 to Aug 1 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Nov 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Nov 16 to Dec 28 | Feb 8 to 22 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 1 to 15 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 1 to 15 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 13 to Apr 10 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Carrots | — | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | Aug 22 to Sep 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jul 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Green Beans | — | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Zucchini | May 1 to 15 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Broccoli | Dec 21 to Jan 11 | Feb 8 to 22 | Aug 29 to Sep 26 |
| Peas | — | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Spinach | Jan 25 to Feb 1 | Mar 1 to 15 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 5 to 26 | — |
| Zinnias | Feb 8 to 15 | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Oct 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Tacoma, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Federal Way, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Lacey, WA zone 8b, last frost Apr 29
- Auburn, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 20
- Olympia, WA zone 8a, last frost Apr 29
- Kent, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 20
Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Lakewood
Questions
When is the last frost in Lakewood?
Around March 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Tacoma #1. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 31.
What planting zone is Lakewood in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lakewood?
Start seeds indoors April 3 to 17 and set plants out May 29 to June 12.
When is the first frost in Lakewood?
Around November 14 in a typical year, and before October 30 about 1 year in 10.