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

Planting zone for 98404 — Tacoma, WA

ZIP code 98404 (Tacoma, Pierce County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost November 14.

Where ZIP 98404 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 8
First frostNov 14
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 14median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season250 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 11 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Tacoma #1, WA — 2 miles away, elevation 26 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 98404

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 19 – Oct 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 31 – Dec 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 14) 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 98404 came on Feb 16 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 Tacoma, WA.

Soil in Tacoma, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98404 is Alderwood — gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter9%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Alderwood complex, 0 to 5 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 98404; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tacoma, WA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights27nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,306base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 37 °F 48°37° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 37 °F 50°37° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 40 °F 55°40° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 44 °F 60°44° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 49 °F 67°49° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 47 °F 61°47° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 41 °F 52°41° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 37 °F 47°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 6.03 in precipitation 6.0 JanFebruary: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 FebMarch: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 MayJune: 1.42 in precipitation 1.4 JunJuly: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 AugSeptember: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 6.50 in precipitation 6.5 NovDecember: 6.02 in precipitation 6.0 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

984088b
Tacoma, WA · 2 mi
984438b
Tacoma, WA · 2 mi
984188b
Tacoma, WA · 2 mi
984098b
Tacoma, WA · 3 mi
984248b
Tacoma, WA · 3 mi
984178b
Tacoma, WA · 3 mi
984198b
Tacoma, WA · 3 mi
984488b
Tacoma, WA · 3 mi

All 33 ZIP codes in Tacoma → · Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98404

What planting zone is ZIP code 98404?

ZIP code 98404 (Tacoma, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Tacoma, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98404 is March 8; after March 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tacoma #1 station.

When is the first frost in Tacoma, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98404 is November 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 250 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98404?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 11 – Jan 25 and set transplants outside around Mar 15 – Mar 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98404 get?

About 40.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tacoma #1 station).

How hot do summers get in Tacoma, WA?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98404 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Alderwood at the center of ZIP 98404: gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Tacoma, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98404 came on Feb 16 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tacoma, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98404 is 15 h 56 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).