Rainline GardenYakima, WA frost dates and planting calendar
The typical last spring frost in Yakima is May 8, and the first fall frost is around October 4. Plant peas from Mar 27; plant tomatoes from May 8.
Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.
Frost dates are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Yakima Air Terminal (324 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 Yakima. 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 Yakima 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 Yakima
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the garden | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
 PeasPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 8 | — |
RadishesPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 22 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
 SpinachPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 1 | Aug 9–30 |
LettucePlant seeds or young plants | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27 – May 22 | Aug 9–23 |
 OnionsPlant small onion bulbs (sets) | — | Mar 27 – May 1 | — |
 CarrotsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | Jul 12–26 |
 BeetsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
KalePlant young plants (starts) | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 10 – May 22 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
 BroccoliPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 10 – May 15 | Jul 12–26 |
 CabbagePlant young plants (starts) | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 10 – May 15 | Jul 12–26 |
 Swiss chardPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
 PotatoesPlant seed potatoes | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — |
Bush beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 15 – Jun 26 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet cornPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 15 – Jun 19 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CucumbersPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 10–17 | May 8 – Jun 5 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
Zucchini and summer squashPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 10–17 | May 8 – Jun 5 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Winter squash and pumpkinsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 10–17 | May 8–29 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 TomatoesPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 13–27 | May 8 – Jun 5 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 PeppersPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 8–29 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 BasilPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 8 – Jun 5 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 DahliasPlant tubers | — | May 8 – Jun 5 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CilantroPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 15 | Aug 16–30 |
 ParsleyPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10 – May 29 | — |
 DillPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 10 – Jun 12 | — |
 StrawberriesPlant young plants | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — |
 BlueberriesPlant potted or bare-root bushes | — | Apr 10 – May 29 | — |
 RaspberriesPlant bare-root canes | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — |
 GarlicPlant cloves | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 1 |
 CauliflowerPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Apr 10 – May 8 | Jul 5–19 |
 Brussels sproutsPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10 – May 22 | — |
 LeeksPlant young plants (starts) | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 10 – May 22 | — |
 ArugulaPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 8 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
 Bok choyPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 27 – May 1 | Aug 9–23 |
 TurnipsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 8 | Aug 2–16 |
 KohlrabiPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 10 – May 22 | Aug 2–16 |
 EggplantPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 8–29 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 MelonsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 10–17 | May 8–29 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Pole beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 15 – Jun 19 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Fava beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 1 | — |
 ShallotsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 1 |
 AsparagusPlant dormant crowns | — | Apr 10 – May 22 | — |
 RhubarbPlant dormant crowns | — | Mar 27 – May 8 | — |
 ChivesPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — |
 MintPlant young plants | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — |
 RosemaryPlant young plants | — | Apr 10 – May 29 | — |
 ThymePlant young plants | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — |
 OreganoPlant young plants | — | Apr 10 – Jun 5 | — |
 SunflowersPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 15 – Jun 26 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet peasPlant seeds in the ground | — | Mar 27 – May 1 | — |
 TulipsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 1 |
 DaffodilsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 1 – Nov 1 |
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
- Pendleton, OR
- The Dalles, OR
- Wenatchee, WA
- Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA
- Walla Walla, WA
- Moses Lake, WA
All Oregon and Washington cities or use the planner with your ZIP.