Frost dates · USDA zone 8b
Frost dates for Federal Way, WA
Federal Way, WA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around March 8 and its first of fall around November 14 — a 250-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Feb 15 | Dec 2 |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Mar 8 | Nov 14 |
| 1 year in 10 | Mar 31 | Oct 30 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 250 days median, at least 223 in 9 years of 10, at least 283 days in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Feb 11 and first of Dec 1.
Federal Way planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Mar 8) and median first frost (Nov 14) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Dec 14 | Feb 8 | May 29 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Mar 8 | Apr 7 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Feb 22 | Feb 22 | Apr 8 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Feb 8 | Mar 22 | May 21 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 11 | Mar 15 | May 29 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Dec 28 | Mar 22 | Jun 25 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 11 | Mar 15 | May 29 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 11 | Mar 15 | Jun 3 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 11 | Mar 15 | Jun 3 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Feb 22 | Feb 22 | May 3 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Jan 25 | Mar 15 | May 24 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Jan 25 | Mar 15 | May 29 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Jan 25 | Mar 15 | Jun 3 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can Federal Way grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Federal Way container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Federal Way frost questions
When is the last frost in Federal Way, WA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at TACOMA #1, WA is March 8: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after March 31; nine years in ten, it comes after February 15. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Federal Way, WA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is November 14. One year in ten it arrives before October 30; nine years in ten, before December 2.
How long is the growing season in Federal Way, WA?
250 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 223 days; one year in ten, at least 283 days.
What growing zone is Federal Way, WA?
USDA hardiness zone 8b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 98023. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in Federal Way, WA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Jan 25 and transplant around Mar 15, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Mar 31. First ripe fruit lands around May 29.
When should I plant peppers in Federal Way, WA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Jan 11; transplant no earlier than Mar 15, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around May 29.
Nearby in Washington
- Auburnlast frost Mar 20
- Tacomalast frost Mar 8
- Kentlast frost Mar 20
- Puyalluplast frost Apr 11
- Burienlast frost Mar 2
- Rentonlast frost Mar 13
All Washington frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →