Kent, Washington: planting zone & frost dates
Kent is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 29 and the first fall frost around Nov 3.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 8 | Oct 26 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 29 | Nov 3 |
| Median (50%) | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station KENT, WA (USC00454169), 2.5 mi (4.0 km) from the city center and 364 ft lower than the city center (-111 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 28 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Kent
Kent spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 5 ZIP codes): 8b (56%), 9a (44%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for Kent
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 3). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 5 – May 10 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 5 – May 3 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Cucumber | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 12 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Onion | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Apr 12 – May 3 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Sep 8 – Oct 6 |
| Kale | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | — | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 8 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Eggplant | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | — | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 22 – Apr 12 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 1 – Mar 22 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 19 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
Nearby cities in Washington
- Auburn — zone 8b, last frost Mar 29, first frost Nov 3
- Renton — zone 9a, last frost Mar 22, first frost Nov 7
- Federal Way — zone 8b, last frost Mar 17, first frost Nov 7
- Bellevue — zone 8b, last frost Mar 16, first frost Nov 15
- Seattle — zone 9a, last frost Mar 16, first frost Nov 15
- Tacoma — zone 8b, last frost Mar 17, first frost Nov 7
More: all Washington cities · other zone 8b cities: Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, El Paso, TX, Virginia Beach, VA, Arlington, TX, Plano, TX, Irving, TX, Garland, TX
Kent gardening questions
When is the last frost in Kent, WA?
Plan around Mar 29. At NOAA's Kent, WA station, 2.5 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Mar 20, and after Apr 8 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Feb 25. The 90% and 10% dates are 40 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Kent, WA?
Start seeds indoors Feb 1 – Feb 15 and set transplants outside Apr 5 – Apr 19, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 219 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Kent?
About 233 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 207 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 262 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 26 and a 30% chance by Nov 3. That ranks 8th longest of 18 Washington cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Kent?
Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 3): transplant broccoli Aug 11 – Aug 25; sow kale Aug 25 – Sep 22; sow lettuce Aug 25 – Sep 22; sow radishes Sep 22 – Oct 20. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Nov 24. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Kent's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Kent is zone 8b on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
Is all of Kent in zone 8b?
No. Zone 8b covers about 56% of the city's land; the rest is in 9a (44%), measured across the city's 5 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.