When to plant in Lakewood, WA
USDA Zone 8bLakewood, Washington frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With about 255 frost-free days, Lakewood supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 8b, Lakewood supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
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 Lakewood’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 Lakewood, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Lakewood planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lakewood, WA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lakewood around March 11 (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 Lakewood, WA?
Expect Lakewood'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 Lakewood in?
Lakewood is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lakewood?
Lakewood has about 255 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 11) and first fall frost (November 21).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lakewood?
For Lakewood, sow tomatoes indoors about January 14–January 28 and move the seedlings out around March 18, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lakewood
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lakewood’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- University Place · 6 km
- Parkland · 7 km
- Fort Lewis · 8 km
- Spanaway · 11 km
- Tacoma · 11 km
- Frederickson · 15 km
- Fife · 15 km
- Puyallup · 18 km
Frost dates recorded at TACOMA NARROWS AP, 12 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 Lakewood, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094274. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/lakewood.