Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Tacoma Narrows Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 11
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 21
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
255 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 15 Mar 11 Apr 2
First fall frost Dec 10 Nov 21 Nov 3
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 13 · first Dec 11

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the TACOMA NARROWS AP station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Tacoma Narrows Airport

Computed from Tacoma Narrows Airport's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 14 – Jan 28 Mar 18 – Mar 25
🫑 Peppers Dec 31 – Jan 14 Mar 25 – Apr 1
🥬 Lettuce Jan 28 – Feb 11 Feb 11 – Feb 25 Feb 11 – Mar 11
🫛 Peas Jan 28 – Feb 11
🥕 Carrots Feb 18 – Mar 11
🥦 Broccoli Jan 21 – Feb 4 Feb 18 – Mar 4
🥬 Kale Jan 28 – Feb 11 Feb 11 – Feb 25 Feb 11 – Feb 25
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 11 – Feb 18 Mar 18 – Mar 25 Mar 18 – Mar 25
🥒 Zucchini Feb 11 – Feb 18 Mar 18 – Mar 25 Mar 18 – Mar 25
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 18 – Mar 25
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 18 – Mar 25
🌿 Basil Jan 28 – Feb 11 Mar 18 – Mar 25 Mar 25 – Apr 1
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 10 – Nov 7

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Tacoma Narrows Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Tacoma Narrows Airport

With roughly 255 frost-free days, Tacoma Narrows Airport gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 21 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA?

The average last spring frost in Tacoma Narrows Airport is around Mar 11, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA?

The average first fall frost in Tacoma Narrows Airport arrives around Nov 21. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Tacoma Narrows Airport?

About 255 frost-free days on average, from Mar 11 to Nov 21. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Tacoma Narrows Airport in?

USDA zone 9a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.