Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98466 (University Place, 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, Tacoma Narrows AP, WA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)254 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 98466, 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 98466 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 26–Oct 24
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 21: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 2 |
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) | Nov 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 11 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 11 | Nov 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 13 | Dec 11 |
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 98466
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 21). 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 14–28 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 14–28 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 14–28 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (transplant) Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 11–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 11–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 17–31 | Mar 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (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: Tacoma Narrows AP, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00094274), elevation 292 ft, 3.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma #1, WA | 6 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 14 |
| Mcmillin Rsvr, WA | 15 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| Seattle Tacoma Intl AP, WA | 18 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 40 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98466
When is the last frost in 98466?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98466 is March 11. For a more cautious planting date, use April 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98466?
The average first fall freeze is November 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 98466?
ZIP 98466 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 98466 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
98465 Tacoma 98467 University Place 98406 Tacoma 98409 Tacoma 98405 Tacoma 98416 Tacoma 98418 Tacoma 98407 Tacoma
Other ZIP codes in Pierce County
98303 98304 98321 98323 98327 98328 98329 98330 98332 98333 98335 98338 98349 98351 98354 98360 98371 98372 98373 98374 98375 98385 98387 98388 All Pierce 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.