When to plant in Bellingham, WA
USDA Zone 8bBellingham, Washington frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Bellingham, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
BELLINGHAM 3 SSW · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bellingham’s own odds, recorded at BELLINGHAM 3 SSW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | Apr 27 | Apr 8 | Oct 2 | Oct 18 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | Apr 1 | Mar 11 | Oct 15 | Nov 2 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F | Mar 27 | Mar 6 | Feb 11 | Nov 1 | Nov 21 | Dec 16 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bellingham, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 26 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Bellingham planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bellingham, WA?
On average, the last spring frost in Bellingham is around April 1 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Bellingham, WA?
In Bellingham, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 2 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Bellingham in?
Bellingham is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Bellingham?
There are roughly 215 frost-free days in Bellingham (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around April 1 to the first fall frost near November 2.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bellingham?
In Bellingham, start tomato seeds indoors around February 4–February 18, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Bellingham
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bellingham’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Ferndale · 14 km
- Lynden · 22 km
- Birch Bay · 28 km
- Anacortes · 32 km
- Sedro-Woolley · 32 km
- Burlington · 34 km
- Mount Vernon · 39 km
- Oak Harbor · 52 km
Frost dates recorded at BELLINGHAM 3 SSW, 5 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bellingham, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00450587. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/bellingham.