Pasco, Washington planting calendar and frost dates
Pasco is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 7 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 199 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 7
- Typical first frost
- October 22
- Frost-free season
- 199 days
Frost dates in Pasco
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 22Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 199 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 18 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ice Harbor Dam, 9.8 miles SSE of the city center and 181 feet lower. 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 Pasco
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, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
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
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
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, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Planting dates for popular crops in Pasco
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Cilantro | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Basil | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Onions | Dec 16 to Jan 27 | Mar 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 25 to Mar 25 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 17 to Apr 7 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 8 to 22 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 20 to Feb 10 | Mar 10 to 24 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Feb 24 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | May 31 to Jun 7 | Jun 28 to Jul 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 10 to Nov 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 10 to Oct 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Sep 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Kennewick, WA zone 7b, last frost Mar 28
- Richland, WA zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Yakima, WA zone 7a, last frost May 8
- Spokane, WA zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Spokane Valley, WA zone 7a, last frost Apr 26
- Coeur d'Alene, ID zone 6b, last frost Apr 22
Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Pasco
Questions
When is the last frost in Pasco?
Around April 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Ice Harbor Dam. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 30.
What planting zone is Pasco in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Pasco?
Start seeds indoors March 18 to April 1 and set plants out May 13 to 27.
When is the first frost in Pasco?
Around October 22 in a typical year, and before October 6 about 1 year in 10.