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Yakima, Washington planting calendar and frost dates

Yakima is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 8 and the first fall frost around October 4, giving about 149 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 7a
Typical last frost
May 8
Typical first frost
October 4
Frost-free season
149 days

Frost dates in Yakima

Last spring frost

  • April 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 23Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 4Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 17Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 149 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 23 and returns around October 16.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Yakima Air Terminal, 2.1 miles S of the city center and 101 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 Yakima

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips

  10. October

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

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Yakima

Yakima's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from May 4 in 98901 to May 8 in 98908. Every one of them is in zone 7a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
989017aMoxee City 10 E, 13.7 mi SEMay 4Oct 10
989027aYakima Air Terminal, 2.1 mi SMay 8Oct 4
989037a———
989087aYakima Air Terminal, 12.4 mi ESEMay 8Oct 4

Planting dates for popular crops in Yakima

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 25 to Apr 8May 20 to Jun 3—
Strawberries—Mar 27 to Apr 10—
LettuceMar 13 to 27May 1 to 15Jul 5 to Aug 9
CilantroMar 27 to Apr 10May 8 to 15—
BasilApr 1 to 15May 20 to 27—
Potatoes—Apr 17 to 24—
Garlic—Mar 27 to Apr 10Oct 4 to 18
OnionsJan 16 to Feb 27Apr 10 to 24—
CucumbersApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
PumpkinsApr 24 to May 8May 22 to Jun 5—
PeppersMar 4 to Apr 1May 20 to Jun 3—
Carrots—Apr 17 to May 8Jul 12 to Aug 2
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 17 to 24—
WatermelonsApr 15 to 29May 20 to Jun 3—
Sweet Corn—May 8 to 22—
Green Beans—May 20 to Jun 3—
ZucchiniApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
BroccoliFeb 20 to Mar 13Apr 10 to 24Jul 19 to Aug 16
Peas—Mar 27 to Apr 10Jul 12 to 26
SpinachMar 27 to Apr 3May 1 to 15Jul 26 to Aug 30
Sunflowers—May 8 to 29—
ZinniasJun 7 to 14Jul 5 to 19—
Tulips——Aug 23 to Oct 18
Daffodils——Aug 23 to Oct 4
Grass Seed—Mar 27 to Apr 10Aug 23 to Sep 6

Nearby cities

Planting in WashingtonAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Yakima

Questions

When is the last frost in Yakima?

Around May 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Yakima Air Terminal. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 27.

What planting zone is Yakima 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 Yakima?

Start seeds indoors March 25 to April 8 and set plants out May 20 to June 3; the safest date to plant out is after May 27.

When is the first frost in Yakima?

Around October 4 in a typical year, and before September 23 about 1 year in 10.