Spokane, WA Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Spokane, Washington.
Gardening in Spokane
Eastern Washington is western Washington's opposite in every way — hot summers, cold winters, dry air, and big sky. Spokane gardeners work harder for their harvests than Seattle gardeners, but the results are spectacular: sun-ripened tomatoes, sweet corn, and fruit that rivals anything from the Yakima Valley.
Zone 6b with genuine continental climate. Your 163-day growing season is frisk compared to Seattle's 255 days. Winters drop below zero. Summers hit 100°F. But the intense eastern Washington sun and low humidity produce food with concentrated flavor and minimal disease. Irrigation is essential — Spokane gets only 17 inches of rain annually, mostly in winter.
Gonzaga basketball fans know about national-caliber performance from an unexpected place — Spokane gardening is the same story. The Inland Northwest's volcanic soil, intense sun, and dedicated gardeners produce food that regularly surprises visitors from the 'real' Pacific Northwest. The South Perry District's farmers market is the gathering place.
What This Means for Spokane Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Spokane is around April 25, and the average first fall frost arrives around October 5. That gives you approximately 163 frost-free days to work with.
At 163 days, you're working with a compressed but productive window. Choose varieties by their days-to-maturity number — anything under 75 days is safe, 75-90 requires indoor starting, and 90+ is a calculated risk. The tradeoff: your cool, moderate summers are excellent for crops that heat-zone gardeners struggle with. Your lettuce doesn't bolt in June. Your peas produce for weeks longer. Cool-season crops are your superpower.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Spokane 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 Spokane
Spokane's 163-day season gives you plenty of time for most vegetables with good planning. Start warm-season crops indoors to maximize your window. Cool-season crops thrive in your spring and fall shoulder seasons. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots, beans, broccoli, garlic, and basil.
See the full Washington planting guide for all 40 plants: Washington Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Spokane.
More About Zone 6B
Spokane is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between -5°F to 0°F. View the full Zone 6B 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 Spokane 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 Spokane (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost (April 25) to maximize your 163-day window. Direct sow cold-hardy crops like peas and lettuce 3-4 weeks before last frost. Every week of early indoor starting matters at this season length. Enter your zip code for exact dates.