When to plant in Ellensburg, WA
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Ellensburg, Washington — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6b means Ellensburg sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
ELLENSBURG · 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 Ellensburg’s own odds, recorded at ELLENSBURG.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 16 | May 23 | May 8 | Sep 8 | Sep 21 | Oct 2 |
| 32°F | May 25 | May 8 | Apr 25 | Sep 20 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F | May 6 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 |
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 Ellensburg, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Ellensburg planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Ellensburg, WA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Ellensburg around May 8 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Ellensburg, WA?
In Ellensburg, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 2 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Ellensburg in?
Ellensburg is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Ellensburg?
There are roughly 147 frost-free days in Ellensburg (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 8 to the first fall frost near October 2.
When should I plant tomatoes in Ellensburg?
In Ellensburg, start tomato seeds indoors around March 13–March 27, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 15 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Ellensburg
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Ellensburg’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Terrace Heights · 45 km
- Yakima · 45 km
- East Wenatchee · 51 km
- Wenatchee · 51 km
- Sunnyside · 87 km
- Grandview · 97 km
- Moses Lake · 97 km
- Enumclaw · 111 km
Frost dates recorded at ELLENSBURG, 4 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 Ellensburg, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00452505. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/ellensburg.