When to plant in Vancouver, WA
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Vancouver, Washington — all computed from Vancouver's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Vancouver, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
VANCOUVER PEARSON AP · 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 Vancouver’s own odds, recorded at VANCOUVER PEARSON AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 24 | Apr 3 | Oct 7 | Oct 24 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F | Apr 18 | Mar 29 | Mar 6 | Oct 22 | Nov 9 | Nov 30 |
| 28°F | Mar 27 | Mar 3 | Feb 4 | Nov 3 | Nov 26 | Dec 22 |
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 Vancouver, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 6 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.
Vancouver planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Vancouver, WA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Vancouver around March 29 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Vancouver, WA?
Expect Vancouver's first fall frost near November 9 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Vancouver in?
Vancouver is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Vancouver?
There are roughly 225 frost-free days in Vancouver (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 29 to the first fall frost near November 9.
When should I plant tomatoes in Vancouver?
In Vancouver, start tomato seeds indoors around February 1–February 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 5 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Vancouver
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Vancouver’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Minnehaha · 3 km
- Five Corners · 6 km
- Hazel Dell · 7 km
- Orchards · 8 km
- Salmon Creek · 10 km
- Mount Vista · 11 km
- Portland · 12 km
- Felida · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at VANCOUVER PEARSON AP, 5 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 Vancouver, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094298. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/vancouver.