Olympia, Washington planting calendar and frost dates
Olympia is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 14, giving about 169 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 29
- Typical first frost
- October 14
- Frost-free season
- 169 days
Frost dates in Olympia
Last spring frost
- April 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 14Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 169 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 April 5 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Olympia Airport, 1.3 miles WSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Olympia shares this station with Lacey, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Olympia
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, 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
April
Start indoors: celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers, zinnias
May
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, zinnias
June
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
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, zoysiagrass
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
September
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
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Olympia
All 4 of Olympia's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Olympia Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 98501, 98512, and 8b in 98502, 98506.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98501 | 8a | Olympia Airport, 1.3 mi WSW | Apr 29 | Oct 14 |
| 98502 | 8b | Olympia Airport, 9.4 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 14 |
| 98506 | 8b | Olympia Airport, 9.5 mi S | Apr 29 | Oct 14 |
| 98512 | 8a | Olympia Airport, 7 mi ENE | Apr 29 | Oct 14 |
Olympia Airport also supplies the frost dates for Lacey, so their planting calendars match Olympia's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Olympia
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 28 to May 12 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 15 to Aug 19 |
| Cilantro | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Basil | May 5 to 19 | Jun 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Jan 7 to Feb 18 | Apr 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 26 to Jun 9 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 26 to Jun 9 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Peppers | Apr 7 to May 5 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 22 to Aug 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jul 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | May 19 to Jun 2 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Zucchini | May 26 to Jun 9 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 29 to Aug 26 |
| Peas | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 22 to Aug 5 |
| Spinach | Mar 18 to 25 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 5 to Sep 9 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 29 to May 20 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 1 to 8 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 2 to Oct 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 2 to Oct 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 2 to 16 |
Nearby cities
- Lacey, WA zone 8b, last frost Apr 29
- Lakewood, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Tacoma, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Federal Way, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Auburn, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 20
- Burien, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Olympia
Questions
When is the last frost in Olympia?
Around April 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Olympia Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 15.
What planting zone is Olympia 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 Olympia?
Start seeds indoors April 28 to May 12 and set plants out June 23 to July 7.
When is the first frost in Olympia?
Around October 14 in a typical year, and before September 28 about 1 year in 10.