Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98006 (Bellevue, 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, Renton Muni AP, WA (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)248 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 98006, 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 98006 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 16: 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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 13 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 13 | Dec 6 |
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 98006
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 13) and first fall frost (Nov 16). 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 16–30 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 2–16 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 2–16 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 16–30 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 16–30 | Feb 20–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 13–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 20 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 6–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 13–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 13–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 13–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 13–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 13–20 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Mar 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (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: Renton Muni AP, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00094248), elevation 29 ft, 5.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Boeing Fld, WA | 7 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 17 |
| Kent, WA | 10 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
| Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo, WA | 10 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98006
When is the last frost in 98006?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98006 is March 13. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98006?
The average first fall freeze is November 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 98006?
ZIP 98006 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 98006 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
98056 Renton 98040 Mercer Island 98008 Bellevue 98059 East Renton Highlands 98005 Bellevue 98007 Bellevue 98004 Bellevue 98118 Seattle
Other ZIP codes in King County
98001 98002 98003 98004 98005 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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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.