Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98283 (Rockport, WA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Newhalem, WA (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)224 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
50°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Darrington 21 NNE (19 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Darrington 21 NNE (19 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 98283 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to mid-May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Mountain West and High Plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 14: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 27 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 5 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 27 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 2 | Nov 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 2 | Dec 4 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 98283
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 14). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 5–19 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (transplant) Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 8–22 | Apr 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Newhalem, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00455840), elevation 525 ft, 9.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diablo Dam, WA | 9 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 1 |
| Ross Dam, WA | 12 mi | Apr 8 | Nov 10 |
| Darrington 21 NNE, WA | 19 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98283
When is the last frost in 98283?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98283 is April 2. For a more cautious planting date, use April 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98283?
The average first fall freeze is November 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 28.
What hardiness zone is 98283?
ZIP 98283 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 98283 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
98237 Concrete 98244 Kendall 98267 Marblemount 98266 Peaceful Valley 98833 98255 Hamilton 98263 Lyman 98220 Acme
Other ZIP codes in Whatcom County
98220 98225 98226 98229 98230 98240 98244 98247 98248 98262 98264 98266 98276 98281 98295 All Whatcom County frost dates · Washington frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.