Frost Dates for Elma, WA 98541
Last spring frost April 30 · First fall frost October 21 · 174 frost-free days · USDA Zone 8b
ZIP 98541 has about 10,800 people.
Moderate season: 174 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 9–May 21 (42 days). Fall frost risk spans October 3–November 8 (36 days).
Frost probability for 98541
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 21 | April 30 | April 9 |
| Fall (first frost) | October 3 | October 21 | November 8 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at ABERDEEN 20NNE (31.8 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 174-day season in Elma
In Elma (174 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 26 | May 14–May 21 | 132 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 132 available after May 14. | Jun 21 |
| Pepper | Mar 19 | May 14–May 21 | 132 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 132 available after May 14. | Jun 26 |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 9 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 30 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9–Apr 16 | 216 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 216 available after Apr 9. | Aug 19 |
| Cucumber | Apr 9 | May 14–May 21 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 25 |
| Beans | — | May 7–May 21 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 1 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5–May 14 | 237 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 237 available after Mar 5. | Aug 10 |
| Zucchini | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Onion | Feb 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 209 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 209 available after Apr 2. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5–Apr 23 | 251 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 18; both mature before Nov 11. | Sep 18 |
| Kale | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Nov 11. | Sep 3 |
| Broccoli | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 209 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 209 available after Apr 2. | Jul 26 |
| Cabbage | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 223 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 223 available after Apr 2. | Aug 19 |
| Radish | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 237 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 19; both mature before Oct 28. | Sep 19 |
| Beets | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 237 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 195 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 21 | 279 | overwinter: Plant Oct 21 to Nov 11; harvest the following summer. | Nov 11 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 26–May 21 | 230 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 26; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 2 | May 7–May 14 | 146 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 146 available after May 7. | Jul 3 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 16 | May 14–May 14 | 139 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 139 available after May 14. | Jun 8 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 19 | Apr 23–May 7 | 188 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 23. | Jul 31 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 16 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 251 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 18; both mature before Nov 11. | Sep 18 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 223 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 223 available after Apr 2. | Jul 20 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 139 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 139 available after May 14. | Jun 8 |
| Eggplant | Mar 12 | May 14–May 21 | 132 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 132 available after May 14. | Jul 1 |
| Okra | Apr 2 | May 7–May 14 | 153 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Basil | Mar 26 | May 21–May 21 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 21 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 25 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 2–Apr 23 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 25 |
| Parsley | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 174 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 174 available after May 7. | Aug 5 |
| Celery | Feb 19 | May 7–May 21 | 174 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 174 available after May 7. | Jun 16 |
| Scallions | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Nov 11. | Aug 29 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Sep 8; both mature before Nov 11. | Sep 8 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 19–Apr 2 | 237 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Nov 11. | Sep 3 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 2 | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 23 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 30 |
| Collards | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Nov 11. | Aug 29 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 132 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 132 available after May 14. | Jun 16 |
| Chives | Feb 5 | May 7–May 14 | 188 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 188 available after May 7. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 237 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Oregano | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 188 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 188 available after May 7. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 5 | May 7–May 14 | 174 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 174 available after May 7. | — |
| Sage | Mar 5 | May 7–May 14 | 188 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 188 available after May 7. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 188 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 188 available after May 7. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 25 |
| Cosmos | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 25 |
| Lavender | Feb 5 | Apr 30–May 14 | 195 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 19 | Apr 30–May 7 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Melons | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 132 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 132 available after May 14. | Jun 16 |
| Mint | — | Apr 30–May 14 | 195 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 7 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 7–May 21 | 153 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 153 available after May 7. | Jul 20 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 139 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 139 available after May 14. | Jun 18 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30–May 14 | 160 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 160 available after Apr 30. | Jul 15 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 5 | May 7–May 14 | 139 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 139 available after May 7. | Jun 26 |
| Watermelon | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 139 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 139 available after May 7. | Jun 21 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Zinnias | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 25 |
Month by month in Elma
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 5), Lavender (Feb 5), Onion (Feb 5), Rosemary (Feb 5), Celery (Feb 19), Collards (Feb 19), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 5), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 5), Cabbage (Mar 5), Lettuce (Mar 5), Sage (Mar 5), Swiss Chard (Mar 5), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 5), Beets (Mar 5), Dill (Mar 5), Peas (Mar 5), Radish (Mar 5), Spinach (Mar 5), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 26). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 2), Corn (Apr 2), Cosmos (Apr 2), Nasturtiums (Apr 2), Okra (Apr 2), Zinnias (Apr 2), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 2), Turnip (Apr 2), Carrots (Apr 9), Potatoes (Apr 16), Sunflowers (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 2), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 2), Cabbage (Apr 2), Collards (Apr 2), Kale (Apr 2), Lettuce (Apr 2), +12 more. Last frost around April 30. |
| May | Direct sow from: Beans (May 7), Pole Beans (May 7). Transplant from: Celery (May 7), Chives (May 7), Corn (May 7), Okra (May 7), Oregano (May 7), Parsley (May 7), +17 more. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 8), Pumpkin (Jun 8), Cantaloupe (Jun 16), Celery (Jun 16), Melons (Jun 16), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 18), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Eggplant (Jul 1), Corn (Jul 3), Sunflowers (Jul 15), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 20), Pole Beans (Jul 20), Basil (Jul 25), +9 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Beans (Aug 1), Marigolds (Aug 4), Parsley (Aug 5), Peas (Aug 10), Cabbage (Aug 19), Carrots (Aug 19), +9 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Kale (Sep 3), Kohlrabi (Sep 3), Turnip (Sep 8), Arugula (Sep 18), Spinach (Sep 18), Radish (Sep 19). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 21). First frost around October 21. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 11). |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Elma, WA (ZIP 98541)?
The median last spring frost date for Elma, WA (ZIP code 98541) is around April 30. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 9; one in ten it runs past May 21.
What is the first fall frost date in Elma, WA?
The median first fall frost date for Elma, WA is around October 21. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around October 3 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Elma, WA?
The frost-free growing season in Elma is about 174 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Elma (174 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Elma, WA?
Elma, WA is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Elma, WA?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 26 and plant out May 14 in Elma. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Elma?
Two: plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 28.
When do I plant garlic in Elma?
Oct 21 to Nov 11; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Aberdeen (ZIP 98520) has 231 frost-free days, 57 more than Elma (ZIP 98541). See Aberdeen ZIP 98520 frost dates
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