Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98330 (Pierce County, WA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Longmire Rainier Nps, WA (16 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)134 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 98330, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 98330 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring March to April.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 22 | Oct 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 2 | Oct 20 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 98330
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Oct 3). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 13–27 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 13–27 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 1–22 (transplant) Apr 24–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 22 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 10–24 | May 8–29 (transplant) May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 17–May 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 12–Jul 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 10–24 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 29–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 10–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Longmire Rainier Nps, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00454764), elevation 2,762 ft, 16.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenoma, WA | 16 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 15 |
| Packwood, WA | 25 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
| Mcmillin Rsvr, WA | 27 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 42 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98330
When is the last frost in 98330?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98330 is May 22. For a more cautious planting date, use June 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98330?
The average first fall freeze is October 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 16.
What hardiness zone is 98330?
ZIP 98330 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 98330 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
98355 Mineral 98328 Clear Lake 98336 98533 98356 Morton 98597 Yelm 98323 Carbonado 98585
Other ZIP codes in Pierce County
98303 98304 98321 98323 98327 98328 98329 98332 98333 98335 98338 98349 98351 98354 98360 98371 98372 98373 98374 98375 98385 98387 98388 98390 All Pierce County frost dates · Washington frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.