Planting planner: Tacoma, Washington
Typical last spring frost March 11 (1 spring in 10 later than April 2). Typical first fall frost November 21 (1 fall in 10 earlier than November 3). Growing season about 254 days.
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We don't give a garlic date here. The rule we use, from the University of Minnesota Extension, counts from the first killing frost, and it works where a hard freeze comes every year before the ground freezes. Your county's extension office can tell you when to plant garlic in your climate.
January
- January 7 to February 4: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
- January 21 to February 11: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
- January 28 to February 11: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
February
- February 4 to 18: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
- February 11 to 25: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
- February 11 to 25: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
- February 25 to March 11: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
- February 25 to March 11: Cauliflower (plant out)
March
- March 11: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
- March 25: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
- March 25: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)
April
Nothing to start this month.
May
Nothing to start this month.
June
- June 26 to July 10: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)
July
- July 16 to 30: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)
August
- August 25: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
- August 29: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
- August 30: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
September
- September 3: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
- September 4: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
- September 8: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
- September 18: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
- September 28: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
October
- October 8: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)
November
- November 3: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)
December
- December 24 to January 21: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Tacoma Narrows Airport (station USW00094274), 6 miles from the center of Tacoma. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/washington/tacoma/