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

Planting zone for 98802 — East Wenatchee, WA

ZIP code 98802 (East Wenatchee, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 98802 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 8
First frostOct 24
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for East Wenatchee, 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 East Wenatchee, 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 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season200 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Wenatchee Pangborn Airport, WA — 7 miles away, elevation 1,230 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 98802

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 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 98802 came on Apr 2 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 East Wenatchee, WA.

Soil in East Wenatchee, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98802 is Badge — very cobbly silt loam, well drained.

TextureVery cobbly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Badge very cobbly silt loam, 30 to 65 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 98802; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Wenatchee, WA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days35days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,962base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 58 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation7.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 24 °F 34°24° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 62 °F 88°62° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 61 °F 86°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 31 °F 44°31° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 25 °F 33°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.02 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 0.76 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wenatchee Pangborn Airport, WA (7 mi away); precipitation: Wenatchee Pangborn Airport, WA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

988077b
Wenatchee, WA · 8 mi
988507a
Rock Island, WA · 8 mi
988017a
Wenatchee, WA · 9 mi
988457a
Palisades, WA · 11 mi
988287a
Malaga, WA · 13 mi
988367a
Monitor, WA · 13 mi
988157a
Cashmere, WA · 15 mi
988437a
Orondo, WA · 18 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98802

What planting zone is ZIP code 98802?

ZIP code 98802 (East Wenatchee, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in East Wenatchee, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98802 is April 8; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wenatchee Pangborn Airport station.

When is the first frost in East Wenatchee, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98802 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 200 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98802?

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

How much rain and snow does 98802 get?

About 7.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wenatchee Pangborn Airport station).

How hot do summers get in East Wenatchee, WA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 35 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98802 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Badge at the center of ZIP 98802: very cobbly silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in East Wenatchee, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98802 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in East Wenatchee, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98802 is 15 h 58 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).