When to plant in Yakima, WA
USDA Zone 7aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Yakima, Washington — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Yakima, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Yakima is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
YAKIMA #2 · 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 Yakima’s own odds, recorded at YAKIMA #2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 12 | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Oct 1 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 28 | Apr 8 | Mar 23 | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Mar 16 | Feb 28 | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 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 Yakima, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
Yakima planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Yakima, WA?
Yakima's average last spring frost falls near April 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 Yakima, WA?
Expect Yakima's first fall frost near October 23 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Yakima in?
Yakima is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Yakima?
There are roughly 198 frost-free days in Yakima (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 8 to the first fall frost near October 23.
When should I plant tomatoes in Yakima?
In Yakima, start tomato seeds indoors around February 11–February 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 15 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Yakima
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Yakima’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Terrace Heights · 9 km
- Ellensburg · 45 km
- Sunnyside · 52 km
- Grandview · 62 km
- East Wenatchee · 94 km
- West Richland · 94 km
- Wenatchee · 95 km
- Richland · 102 km
Frost dates recorded at YAKIMA #2, 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 Yakima, WA — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00459463. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/washington/yakima.