Tacoma, Washington planting calendar and frost dates

Frost dates in Tacoma

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.

What to plant each month in Tacoma

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. June

   Start indoors: cosmos, okra

   Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

7. July

   Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass

   Plant for fall: potatoes

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

12. 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 Tacoma

All 10 of Tacoma's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Tacoma #1, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8b in 98404, 98405, 98406, 98408, 98409, 98418, 98422, and 9a in 98407, 98421, 98465.

Tacoma #1 also supplies the frost dates for Lakewood, so their planting calendars match Tacoma's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Tacoma

Nearby cities

• Lakewood, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
• Federal Way, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
• Auburn, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 20
• Kent, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 20
• Burien, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
• Renton, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 20