When to plant in Fort Lewis, WA
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fort Lewis, Washington — all computed from Fort Lewis's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 255 frost-free days, Fort Lewis supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 19 km from Fort Lewis, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Fort Lewis, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
TACOMA NARROWS AP · 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 Fort Lewis’s own odds, recorded at TACOMA NARROWS AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 2 | Apr 11 | Mar 26 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Apr 2 | Mar 11 | Feb 15 | Nov 3 | Nov 21 | Dec 10 |
| 28°F | Mar 8 | Feb 13 | Jan 1 | Nov 18 | Dec 11 | Jan 19 |
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 Fort Lewis, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Fort Lewis planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Lewis, WA?
On average, the last spring frost in Fort Lewis is around March 11 (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 Fort Lewis, WA?
Expect Fort Lewis's first fall frost near November 21 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Fort Lewis in?
Fort Lewis is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fort Lewis?
There are roughly 255 frost-free days in Fort Lewis (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 11 to the first fall frost near November 21.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Lewis?
In Fort Lewis, start tomato seeds indoors around January 14–January 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 18 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fort Lewis
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Lewis’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lakewood · 8 km
- Spanaway · 11 km
- Parkland · 11 km
- University Place · 13 km
- Frederickson · 16 km
- Elk Plain · 16 km
- Yelm · 18 km
- Lacey · 18 km
Frost dates recorded at TACOMA NARROWS AP, 19 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 Fort Lewis, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094274. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/fort-lewis.