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

Planting zone for Yakima, WA

Yakima, WA is in USDA zone 7a across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost October 23.

Yakima on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes7
Last frostApr 8
First frostOct 23
Growing season196 days

7a 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Yakima, 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 Yakima, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season196 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Yakima #2, WA, elevation 1,142 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 Yakima

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 98907 came on Mar 18 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 7a in Washington

590 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 31

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 105

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 282

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 Yakima, WA.

Soil in Yakima, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98907 is Weirman — sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Weirman sandy loam, channeled.

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 98907; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Yakima, WA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, December
Hot days38days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,038base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation10.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 27 °F 40°27° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 60 °F 88°60° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 59 °F 88°59° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 51 °F 79°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 26 °F 38°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.32 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Yakima #2, WA (3 mi away); precipitation: Yakima 2.5 Wnw, WA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Yakima

989017a
0 to 5 °F
989027a
0 to 5 °F
989037a
0 to 5 °F
989047a
0 to 5 °F
989077a
0 to 5 °F
989087a
0 to 5 °F
989097a
0 to 5 °F

Washington planting zones →

Questions about Yakima

What planting zone is Yakima, WA?

Yakima, WA is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Yakima, WA?

The median last spring frost is April 8 and the median first fall frost is October 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yakima #2 station).

When can I plant a garden in Yakima, WA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 25 – Mar 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Yakima, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 50 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Yakima, WA get?

About 10.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).