Frost dates · USDA zone 9a
Frost dates for Renton, WA
Renton, WA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around March 13 and its first of fall around November 16 — a 248-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 19 | Dec 9 |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Mar 13 | Nov 16 |
| 1 year in 10 | Mar 31 | Oct 29 |
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: 248 days median, at least 221 in 9 years of 10, at least 280 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 13 and first of Dec 6.
Renton planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Mar 13) and median first frost (Nov 16) 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 19 | Feb 13 | Jun 3 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Mar 13 | Apr 12 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Feb 27 | Feb 27 | Apr 13 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Feb 13 | Mar 27 | May 26 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 16 | Mar 20 | Jun 3 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Jan 2 | Mar 27 | Jun 30 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 16 | Mar 20 | Jun 3 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 16 | Mar 20 | Jun 8 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 16 | Mar 20 | Jun 8 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Feb 27 | Feb 27 | May 8 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Jan 30 | Mar 20 | May 29 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Jan 30 | Mar 20 | Jun 3 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Jan 30 | Mar 20 | Jun 8 | 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 Renton grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Renton container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Renton frost questions
When is the last frost in Renton, WA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at RENTON MUNI AP, WA is March 13: 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 19. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Renton, WA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is November 16. One year in ten it arrives before October 29; nine years in ten, before December 9.
How long is the growing season in Renton, WA?
248 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 221 days; one year in ten, at least 280 days.
What growing zone is Renton, WA?
USDA hardiness zone 9a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 98057. 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 Renton, WA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Jan 30 and transplant around Mar 20, 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 Jun 3.
When should I plant peppers in Renton, WA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Jan 16; transplant no earlier than Mar 20, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Jun 3.
Nearby in Washington
- Kentlast frost Mar 20
- Burienlast frost Mar 2
- Bellevuelast frost Mar 8
- Sammamishlast frost Mar 30
- Seattlelast frost Mar 13
- Auburnlast frost Mar 20
All Washington frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →