Frost dates for 98223Arlington, WA
The average last spring frost in Arlington is April 22 and the average first fall frost is October 19, giving a typical growing season of about 181 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 22
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 19
- Growing season
- 181 days
Safer after May 6 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Oct 3 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 176 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Apr 28 · May 10 · May 24 | Sep 17 · Oct 2 · Oct 17 | 145 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 4 · Apr 22 · May 6 | Oct 3 · Oct 19 · Nov 4 | 181 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Mar 3 · Mar 25 · Apr 15 | Oct 19 · Nov 3 · Nov 23 | 224 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Arlington
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Mar 22 – May 28 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 8 – Jun 29 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 22 – Apr 22 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 22 – Jun 22 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 8 – May 7 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 22 – Jun 22 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 22 – Jul 9 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 8 – Jun 22 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 22 – Jun 22 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 8 – Aug 1 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 8 – Jun 29 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 22 – Jun 22 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 15 – Jun 7 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 22 – May 7 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 22 – May 22 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 8 – Mar 7 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – May 7 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 4 – Apr 7 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – May 7 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 19 – Jun 29 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 19 – Jul 30 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 22 – Mar 22 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 22 – Apr 22 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 9 – Jul 9 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 9 – Aug 9 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 22 – Jun 7 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 9 – Aug 25 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 15 – Apr 28 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 26 – Aug 30 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 22 – May 12 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 9 – Sep 9 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – Apr 28 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 2 – Aug 9 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 22 – Jun 7 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 9 – Jul 25 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Oct 9 – Nov 9 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 98223 is matched to the NOAA station Arlington, WA, 2.3 km away, at 100 ft elevation (238 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, WA (used) | 100 ft | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| Everett, WA | 60 ft | Mar 24 | Nov 2 |
| Everett Snohomish Ap, WA | 606 ft | Mar 9 | Nov 17 |
| Mt Vernon 3 Wnw, WA | 14 ft | Mar 24 | Nov 3 |
Frost dates near Arlington
- North Lakewood, WA 98259 · last Mar 24, first Nov 2
- Silvana, WA 98287 · last Mar 24, first Nov 2
- Marysville, WA 98271 · last Mar 24, first Nov 2
- Granite Falls, WA 98252 · last Mar 9, first Nov 17
- Lake Stevens, WA 98258 · last Mar 24, first Nov 2
- Stanwood, WA 98292 · last Mar 17, first Nov 11
- Mount Vernon, WA 98274 · last Mar 27, first Nov 6
- Everett, WA 98201 · last Mar 24, first Nov 2
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Arlington, WA?
- For ZIP code 98223, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 22, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Arlington, WA weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 6.
- When is the first frost in Arlington, WA?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 19. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by October 3, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 98223?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 181 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.