Spokane, Washington planting calendar and frost dates
Spokane is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 170 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 26
- Typical first frost
- October 15
- Frost-free season
- 170 days
Frost dates in Spokane
Last spring frost
- April 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 30Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 31Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 170 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 4 and returns around October 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 miles ENE 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 Spokane
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, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, eggplants, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, 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
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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, 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 Spokane
All 9 of Spokane's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Spokane Felts Fld, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 99203, 99208, 99217, 99223, 99224, and 7a in 99201, 99202, 99205, 99207.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99201 | 7a | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99202 | 7a | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99203 | 6b | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99205 | 7a | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99207 | 7a | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99208 | 6b | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99217 | 6b | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99223 | 6b | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| 99224 | 6b | Spokane Felts Fld, 5.2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
Spokane Felts Fld also supplies the frost dates for Spokane Valley, so their planting calendars match Spokane's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Spokane
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 4 to 18 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Cilantro | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Basil | Apr 11 to 25 | May 30 to Jun 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Jan 4 to Feb 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 14 to Apr 11 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 24 to Jul 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Zucchini | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 23 to Aug 6 |
| Spinach | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 11 to 18 | Jul 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Spokane Valley, WA zone 7a, last frost Apr 26
- Coeur d'Alene, ID zone 6b, last frost Apr 22
- Pasco, WA zone 7a, last frost Apr 7
- Richland, WA zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Kennewick, WA zone 7b, last frost Mar 28
- Yakima, WA zone 7a, last frost May 8
Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Spokane
Questions
When is the last frost in Spokane?
Around April 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Spokane Felts Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 10.
What planting zone is Spokane in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Spokane?
Start seeds indoors April 4 to 18 and set plants out May 30 to June 13.
When is the first frost in Spokane?
Around October 15 in a typical year, and before September 30 about 1 year in 10.