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
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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
September
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Yakima
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 13 to 27 | May 1 to 15 | Jul 5 to Aug 9 |
| Cilantro | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Apr 1 to 15 | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Oct 4 to 18 |
| Onions | Jan 16 to Feb 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 4 to Apr 1 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 17 to May 8 | Jul 12 to Aug 2 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 17 to 24 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 15 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 20 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 19 to Aug 16 |
| Peas | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Jul 12 to 26 |
| Spinach | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 15 | Jul 26 to Aug 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 7 to 14 | Jul 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 23 to Oct 18 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 23 to Oct 4 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
Nearby cities
- Richland, WA zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Kennewick, WA zone 7b, last frost Mar 28
- Pasco, WA zone 7a, last frost Apr 7
- Auburn, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 20
- Kent, WA zone 9a, last frost Mar 20
- Federal Way, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
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.