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When to plant in SeaTac, WA

USDA Zone 9a

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

SeaTac enjoys a long ~266-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for SeaTac — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.

Station · SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP · 1.2 km
Last spring frost
March 2
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 23
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
266 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for SeaTacA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for SeaTac: last spring frost around March 2, first fall frost around November 23, about 266 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in SeaTac is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

SEATTLE TACOMA INTL 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 SeaTac’s own odds, recorded at SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP.

Frost-probability curves for SeaTacProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around March 2 and the first fall frost around November 23, giving about 266 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°FApr 21Mar 31Mar 13Oct 24Nov 7Nov 23
32°FMar 23Mar 2Feb 5Nov 6Nov 23Dec 15
28°FFeb 28Feb 4Dec 20Nov 17Dec 10Jan 16

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

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowin 15 days
Brussels Sprouts
August 3August 17

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 SeaTac, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 8 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.

SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP
Primary
1 km · 113 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 2
FALL
Nov 23
KENT
5 km · 9 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 20
FALL
Nov 10
RENTON MUNI AP
8 km · 9 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 13
FALL
Nov 16

SeaTac planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in SeaTac, WA?

On average, the last spring frost in SeaTac is around March 2 (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 SeaTac, WA?

Expect SeaTac's first fall frost near November 23 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is SeaTac in?

SeaTac is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in SeaTac?

SeaTac has about 266 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 2) and first fall frost (November 23).

When should I plant tomatoes in SeaTac?

For SeaTac, sow tomatoes indoors about January 5–January 19 and move the seedlings out around March 9, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in SeaTac

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP, 1 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 SeaTac, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024233. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/seatac.