When to plant in Orchards, WA
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Orchards, Washington — all computed from Orchards's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Orchards, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
BATTLE GROUND · 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 Orchards’s own odds, recorded at BATTLE GROUND.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 13 | Apr 29 | Sep 11 | Sep 30 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 26 | Apr 5 | Sep 29 | Oct 16 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Mar 29 | Mar 4 | Oct 16 | Nov 5 | Nov 30 |
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 Orchards, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 12 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.
Orchards planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Orchards, WA?
On average, the last spring frost in Orchards is around April 26 (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 Orchards, WA?
Expect Orchards's first fall frost near October 16 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Orchards in?
Orchards is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Orchards?
There are roughly 173 frost-free days in Orchards (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 26 to the first fall frost near October 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Orchards?
In Orchards, start tomato seeds indoors around March 1–March 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 3 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Orchards
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Orchards’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Five Corners · 3 km
- Minnehaha · 8 km
- Vancouver · 8 km
- Mount Vista · 10 km
- Hazel Dell · 10 km
- Battle Ground · 10 km
- Salmon Creek · 11 km
- Camas · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at BATTLE GROUND, 9 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 Orchards, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00450482. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/orchards.