When to plant in Centralia, WA
USDA Zone 8bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Centralia, Washington — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Centralia, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Centralia is now 9 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CENTRALIA · 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 Centralia’s own odds, recorded at CENTRALIA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 24 | May 7 | Apr 24 | Sep 22 | Oct 8 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | May 10 | Apr 22 | Mar 30 | Oct 7 | Oct 27 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | Mar 23 | Feb 24 | Oct 21 | Nov 13 | Dec 7 |
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 Centralia, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 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.
Centralia planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Centralia, WA?
On average, the last spring frost in Centralia is around April 22 (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 Centralia, WA?
In Centralia, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 27 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Centralia in?
Centralia is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Centralia?
There are roughly 188 frost-free days in Centralia (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 22 to the first fall frost near October 27.
When should I plant tomatoes in Centralia?
In Centralia, start tomato seeds indoors around February 25–March 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 29 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Centralia
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Centralia’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at CENTRALIA, 1 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 Centralia, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00451276. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/centralia.