Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98002 (Auburn, 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, Kent, WA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)233 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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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 98002 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 10: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Feb 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 8 |
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) | Oct 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 11 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 25 | Nov 24 |
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 98002
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 20) and first fall frost (Nov 10). 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 | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 9–23 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 9–23 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 27–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 13–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 20–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 20–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 20–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Mar 27–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 6–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (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: Kent, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00454169), elevation 30 ft, 7.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma #1, WA | 10 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 14 |
| Seattle Tacoma Intl AP, WA | 10 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 23 |
| Mcmillin Rsvr, WA | 12 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 40 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98002
When is the last frost in 98002?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98002 is March 20. For a more cautious planting date, use April 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98002?
The average first fall freeze is November 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 26.
What hardiness zone is 98002?
ZIP 98002 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 98002 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
98001 Auburn 98047 Pacific 98030 Kent 98092 Auburn 98003 Federal Way 98042 Lake Morton-Berrydale 98032 Kent 98354 Milton
Other ZIP codes in King County
98001 98003 98004 98005 98006 98007 98008 98010 98011 98014 98019 98022 98023 98024 98025 98027 98028 98029 98030 98031 98032 98033 98034 98038 All King County frost dates · Washington frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- 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.