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

Planting zone for 98252 — Granite Falls, WA

ZIP code 98252 (Granite Falls, Snohomish County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 98252 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 15
First frostOct 25
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Granite Falls, 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 Granite Falls, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 12.

From the NOAA station Startup 1 E, WA — 14 miles away, elevation 171 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 98252

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 98252 came on Apr 1 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 8a in Washington

611 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 113

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 292

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 Granite Falls, WA.

Soil in Granite Falls, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98252 is Typic Udivitrands — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast

Map unit: Typic Udivitrands-Oxyaquic Haplorthods association, 0 to 35 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 98252; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Granite Falls, WA

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights53nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,904base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation68.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 34 °F 47°34° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 34 °F 51°34° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 37 °F 52°37° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 34 °F 47°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 8.94 in precipitation 8.9 JanFebruary: 5.92 in precipitation 5.9 FebMarch: 6.77 in precipitation 6.8 MarApril: 5.87 in precipitation 5.9 AprMay: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 JulAugust: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 7.13 in precipitation 7.1 OctNovember: 9.82 in precipitation 9.8 NovDecember: 8.41 in precipitation 8.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Startup 1 E, WA (14 mi away); precipitation: Startup 1 E, WA (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

982518a
Gold Bar, WA · 12 mi
982938b
Startup, WA · 13 mi
982908b
Snohomish, WA · 14 mi
982238b
Arlington, WA · 15 mi
982948b
Sultan, WA · 16 mi
982728b
Monroe, WA · 16 mi
982588b
Lake Stevens, WA · 17 mi
982918b
Snohomish, WA · 19 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98252

What planting zone is ZIP code 98252?

ZIP code 98252 (Granite Falls, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Granite Falls, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98252 is April 15; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Startup 1 E station.

When is the first frost in Granite Falls, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98252 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98252?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98252 get?

About 68.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Startup 1 E station).

How hot do summers get in Granite Falls, WA?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98252 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Typic Udivitrands at the center of ZIP 98252: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Granite Falls, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98252 came on Apr 1 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Granite Falls, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98252 is 16 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 98252 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 98252 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.