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When to plant in Lacey, WA

USDA Zone 8b

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Lacey, Washington — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Lacey, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.

Station · OLYMPIA AP · 11.1 km
Last spring frost
April 29
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 14
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
168 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for LaceyA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Lacey: last spring frost around April 29, first fall frost around October 14, about 168 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

OLYMPIA AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Lacey’s own odds, recorded at OLYMPIA AP.

Frost-probability curves for LaceyProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 14, giving about 168 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 31May 15Apr 30Sep 12Sep 28Oct 14
32°FMay 15Apr 29Apr 11Sep 28Oct 14Nov 1
28°FApr 29Apr 5Mar 12Oct 9Nov 1Nov 24

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 8July 22
Fall sowin 3 days
Broccoli
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Cabbage
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Carrot
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Cauliflower
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Napa Cabbage
July 22August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Beet
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Collards
August 5September 2
Fall sowin 17 days
Endive
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Escarole
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Kale
August 5September 2
Fall sowin 17 days
Kohlrabi
August 5September 2
Fall sowin 17 days
Peas
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Radicchio
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Swiss Chard
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Turnip
August 5September 2

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Lacey, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 34 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

OLYMPIA AP
Primary
11 km · 57 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 29
FALL
Oct 14
TACOMA NARROWS AP
30 km · 89 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 11
FALL
Nov 21
SHELTON SANDERSON FLD
34 km · 83 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 27
FALL
Oct 16

Lacey planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Lacey, WA?

On average, the last spring frost in Lacey is around April 29 (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 Lacey, WA?

Expect Lacey's first fall frost near October 14 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Lacey in?

Lacey is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Lacey?

There are roughly 168 frost-free days in Lacey (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 29 to the first fall frost near October 14.

When should I plant tomatoes in Lacey?

In Lacey, start tomato seeds indoors around March 4–March 18, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 6 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Lacey

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lacey’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at OLYMPIA AP, 11 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Lacey, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024227. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/lacey.
When to Plant in Lacey, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b — BlissGarden