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When to plant in Tukwila, WA

USDA Zone 9a

Tukwila, 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 266 frost-free days, Tukwila supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Tukwila — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.

Station · SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP · 4.6 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 TukwilaA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Tukwila: 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 Tukwila 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 Tukwila’s own odds, recorded at SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP.

Frost-probability curves for TukwilaProbability 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 Tukwila, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 6 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
5 km · 113 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 2
FALL
Nov 23
RENTON MUNI AP
5 km · 9 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 13
FALL
Nov 16
SEATTLE BOEING FLD
6 km · 6 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 13
FALL
Nov 17

Tukwila planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Tukwila, WA?

Tukwila's average last spring frost falls near March 2 — 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 Tukwila, WA?

Expect Tukwila'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 Tukwila in?

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

How long is the growing season in Tukwila?

Tukwila 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 Tukwila?

For Tukwila, 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 Tukwila

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP, 5 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 Tukwila, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024233. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/tukwila.
When to Plant in Tukwila, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a — BlissGarden