Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Gig Harbor, WA

Gig Harbor, WA is in USDA zones 8b to 9a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 21.

Gig Harbor on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones8b–9a15 to 25 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 11
First frostNov 21
Growing season254 days

8b 2 ZIPs   9a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gig Harbor, WA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Gig Harbor, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 21median — 10% chance by Nov 3
Growing season254 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 13 and returns around December 11.

From the NOAA station Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA, elevation 292 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Gig Harbor

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 26 – Oct 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 7 – Dec 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 21) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 98332 came on Feb 17 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8b in Washington

614 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 32

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigleaf maple60 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −14 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 114

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 293

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 157

Alaska brome5 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FAlaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Gig Harbor, WA.

Soil in Gig Harbor, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98332 is Harstine — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Harstine gravelly ashy sandy loam, 6 to 15 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 98332; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gig Harbor, WA

Summer high76 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights21nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,896base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation52.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 36 °F 46°36° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 37 °F 48°37° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 39 °F 53°39° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 47 °F 65°47° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 46 °F 59°46° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 40 °F 51°40° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 36 °F 46°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 8.30 in precipitation 8.3 JanFebruary: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 FebMarch: 5.71 in precipitation 5.7 MarApril: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 MayJune: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 JunJuly: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 OctNovember: 8.46 in precipitation 8.5 NovDecember: 8.67 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 8.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tacoma Narrows Airport, WA (7 mi away); precipitation: Wauna 3 W, WA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Gig Harbor

983298b
15 to 20 °F
983328b
15 to 20 °F
983359a
20 to 25 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Gig Harbor

What planting zone is Gig Harbor, WA?

Gig Harbor, WA is in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9a on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F; 9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Gig Harbor, WA?

The median last spring frost is March 11 and the median first fall frost is November 21 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tacoma Narrows Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Gig Harbor, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 28 – Feb 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Gig Harbor, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 57 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Gig Harbor, WA get?

About 52.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).