Rainline GardenShelton, WA frost dates and planting calendar
The typical last spring frost in Shelton is April 27, and the first fall frost is around October 16. Plant peas from Mar 16; plant tomatoes from May 10.
West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.
Frost dates are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Shelton Sanderson Field (83 m elevation). Gardens in cold hollows or at higher elevation can frost later in spring and earlier in fall.
What to plant now
Turn on JavaScript to see what's in season today. The full calendar is below.
New to gardening? Start with these 5 easy crops
They're forgiving, quick and hard to kill in Shelton. Tap one for planting dates and step-by-step instructions, or read the beginner's guide.
RadishesReady in about four weeks, so you see results fast.
LettuceGrows in cool weather and a bit of shade, and you can pick it for weeks.
Bush beansBig seeds that are easy to plant, and one sowing feeds you all summer.
Zucchini and summer squashTwo plants are plenty. It almost always produces.
KaleShrugs off Northwest cold and keeps going into winter.
Make a garden plan for Shelton Pick your plants and get a dated, printable to-do list.
Planting calendar
- Start seeds indoors
- Plant in the garden
- Plant again for fall
- Frost possible
- Frost likely
How to read this: each bar shows when to do that job. Dashed bars are for starting seeds indoors in trays; solid bars are for planting in the garden.
Planting dates for Shelton
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the garden | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
 PeasPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – Apr 27 | — |
RadishesPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – May 11 | Sep 3–17 |
 SpinachPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | Aug 20 – Sep 10 |
LettucePlant seeds or young plants | Feb 2–16 | Mar 16 – May 11 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
 OnionsPlant small onion bulbs (sets) | — | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | — |
 CarrotsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 30 – May 25 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
 BeetsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 30 – May 25 | Aug 6–20 |
KalePlant young plants (starts) | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Mar 30 – May 11 | Aug 6–20 |
 BroccoliPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30 – May 4 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
 CabbagePlant young plants (starts) | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30 – May 4 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
 Swiss chardPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 30 – May 25 | Aug 6–20 |
 PotatoesPlant seed potatoes | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | — |
Bush beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 10 – Jun 21 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet cornPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 10 – Jun 14 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CucumbersPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 12–19 | May 10 – Jun 7 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
Zucchini and summer squashPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 12–19 | May 10 – Jun 7 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Winter squash and pumpkinsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 12–19 | May 10–31 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 TomatoesPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 15–29 | May 10 – Jun 7 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 PeppersPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 1–15 | May 10–31 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 BasilPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | May 10 – Jun 7 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 DahliasPlant tubers | — | May 10 – Jun 7 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CilantroPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – May 4 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
 ParsleyPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30 – May 18 | — |
 DillPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 30 – Jun 1 | — |
 StrawberriesPlant young plants | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | — |
 BlueberriesPlant potted or bare-root bushes | — | Mar 30 – May 18 | — |
 RaspberriesPlant bare-root canes | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | — |
 GarlicPlant cloves | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 15 |
 CauliflowerPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | Jul 16–30 |
 Brussels sproutsPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30 – May 11 | — |
 LeeksPlant young plants (starts) | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 30 – May 11 | — |
 ArugulaPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – Apr 27 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
 Bok choyPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 9–23 | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
 TurnipsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – Apr 27 | Aug 13–27 |
 KohlrabiPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Mar 30 – May 11 | Aug 13–27 |
 EggplantPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 1–15 | May 10–31 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 MelonsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 12–19 | May 10–31 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Pole beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 10 – Jun 14 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Fava beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | — |
 ShallotsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 15 |
 AsparagusPlant dormant crowns | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | — |
 RhubarbPlant dormant crowns | — | Mar 16 – Apr 27 | — |
 ChivesPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30 – May 25 | — |
 MintPlant young plants | — | Mar 30 – May 25 | — |
 RosemaryPlant young plants | — | Mar 30 – May 18 | — |
 ThymePlant young plants | — | Mar 30 – May 25 | — |
 OreganoPlant young plants | — | Mar 30 – May 25 | — |
 SunflowersPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 10 – Jun 21 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet peasPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | — |
 TulipsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 15 |
 DaffodilsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 15 |
Dates are a guide, not a guarantee. Check the soil before planting: cool-season crops need it workable and not soggy; warm-season crops need it warm. A $10 soil thermometer pays for itself. Unfamiliar terms are explained in the glossary.
Nearby areas with similar weather
- Seattle and Tacoma, WA
- Everett, WA
- Olympia, WA
- Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA
- Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA
- Portland, OR
All Oregon and Washington cities or use the planner with your ZIP.