When to plant in Port Townsend, WA
USDA Zone 8bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Port Townsend, Washington — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With about 272 frost-free days, Port Townsend supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 8b, Port Townsend supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average first fall frost in Port Townsend is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PORT TOWNSEND · 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 Port Townsend’s own odds, recorded at PORT TOWNSEND.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 26 | Mar 31 | Mar 10 | Oct 19 | Nov 9 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F | Mar 23 | Mar 1 | Feb 3 | Nov 9 | Nov 28 | Dec 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 3 | Feb 1 | Dec 14 | Nov 20 | Dec 19 | Feb 6 |
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 Port Townsend, 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.
Port Townsend planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Port Townsend, WA?
On average, the last spring frost in Port Townsend is around March 1 (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 Port Townsend, WA?
The first fall frost in Port Townsend typically arrives around November 28 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Port Townsend in?
Port Townsend is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Port Townsend?
Port Townsend has about 272 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 1) and first fall frost (November 28).
When should I plant tomatoes in Port Townsend?
For Port Townsend, sow tomatoes indoors about January 4–January 18 and move the seedlings out around March 8, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Port Townsend
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Port Townsend’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Oak Harbor · 22 km
- Camano · 24 km
- Anacortes · 43 km
- Mukilteo · 43 km
- Poulsbo · 44 km
- Picnic Point · 45 km
- Edmonds · 47 km
- Marysville · 47 km
Frost dates recorded at PORT TOWNSEND, 2 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 Port Townsend, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00456678. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/port-townsend.