Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98609 (Cowlitz 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, Longview, WA (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)210 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 98609
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 98609, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- 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.
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 98609 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 5: 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) | Mar 11 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 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) | Oct 17 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 3 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 8 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 6 | 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 98609
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Nov 5). 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 | Feb 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 11–25 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 14–28 | Apr 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (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: Longview, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00454769), elevation 12 ft, 6.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Helens Rfd, OR | 15 mi | Apr 18 | Nov 7 |
| Clatskanie, OR | 16 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 24 |
| Scappoose Ind AP, OR | 21 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98609
When is the last frost in 98609?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98609 is April 8. For a more cautious planting date, use May 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98609?
The average first fall freeze is November 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 17.
What hardiness zone is 98609?
ZIP 98609 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 98609 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
97048 Rainier 98626 Kelso 97054 Deer Island 97018 Columbia City 98674 Woodland 97051 St. Helens 98632 Longview 98625 Kalama
Other ZIP codes in Cowlitz County
98581 98603 98611 98625 98626 98632 98645 98649 98674 All Cowlitz 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.