When to plant in Tacoma, WA
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Tacoma, Washington — all computed from Tacoma's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 251 frost-free days, Tacoma supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Tacoma, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Tacoma is now 9 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
TACOMA #1 · 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 Tacoma’s own odds, recorded at TACOMA #1.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 24 | Apr 2 | Mar 13 | Oct 16 | Oct 31 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Mar 8 | Feb 15 | Oct 30 | Nov 14 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F | Mar 4 | Feb 11 | Dec 29 | Nov 8 | Dec 1 | Jan 1 |
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 Tacoma, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
Tacoma planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Tacoma, WA?
Tacoma's average last spring frost falls near March 8 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Tacoma, WA?
In Tacoma, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 14 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Tacoma in?
Tacoma is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Tacoma?
There are roughly 251 frost-free days in Tacoma (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 8 to the first fall frost near November 14.
When should I plant tomatoes in Tacoma?
In Tacoma, start tomato seeds indoors around January 11–January 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 15 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Tacoma
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Tacoma’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- University Place · 8 km
- Fife · 9 km
- Lakewood · 11 km
- Federal Way · 11 km
- Parkland · 12 km
- Edgewood · 13 km
- Lakeland South · 13 km
- Gig Harbor · 14 km
Frost dates recorded at TACOMA #1, 4 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 Tacoma, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00458278. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/tacoma.