Olympia, WA Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Olympia, Washington.
Gardening in Olympia
Washington's capital sits at the southern end of Puget Sound, where the maritime influence creates a gardening climate that's mild, wet, and endlessly productive for cool-season crops.
Zone 8a with Pacific maritime moderation. Olympia is slightly warmer than Seattle in summer and equally mild in winter. Your 235-day growing season supports year-round cool-season production. The glacial till soils are variable — some neighborhoods have sandy, well-drained soil while others sit on hardpan clay.
The Olympia Farmers Market is one of the largest in Washington. State government employees and Evergreen State College create a food-conscious community. The South Sound's small farm density means local food is genuinely local.
What This Means for Olympia Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Olympia is around March 15, and the average first fall frost arrives around November 5. That gives you approximately 235 frost-free days to work with.
That's a generous season. You have time for full-size tomatoes, long-season peppers, and even watermelons without the anxiety of racing the frost. Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost to hit the ground running. Fall planting is your second opportunity — garlic, kale, lettuce, and broccoli all go in 8-10 weeks before your first frost for harvest into late autumn.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Olympia area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Olympia
Olympia's 235-day growing season is generous — long enough for two full growing windows (spring and fall) with warm-season crops between them. You can grow the full range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers with proper timing. Focus on heat-tolerant varieties for midsummer and cool-season crops for extended fall harvests. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, garlic, kale, and sunflowers.
See the full Washington planting guide for all 40 plants: Washington Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Olympia.
More About Zone 8A
Olympia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 10°F to 15°F. View the full Zone 8A planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Washington: Washington Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Olympia area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Olympia (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Cool-season crops go in 3-4 weeks before your last frost (March 15). Warm-season crops wait until 2 weeks after. You have time for a fall round too — plant cool-season crops again in late summer for harvest into autumn. Enter your zip code for exact dates.