Frost dates and planting calendar
Shelton, WA
The typical last spring frost in Shelton is April 27, and the first fall frost is around October 16. Plant peas from Mar 16; plant tomatoes from May 15.
NOAA 1991–2020 frost normals, Shelton Sanderson Field station. Where these dates come from
About Shelton
Shelton sits on Oakland Bay at the southern tip of Puget Sound. The bays around it are known for oysters, and Mason County is one of the country's big Christmas tree growers.
Chance of frost through the year
Frost over in 9 years out of 10: after May 12
Tomatoes go out May 15 – Jun 12, once the soil is warm
- Very likely
- Likely
- Possible
- Unlikely
In 9 years out of 10, the last spring frost has passed by May 12 and the first fall frost holds off until Oct 1.
What to plant now
Turn on JavaScript to see what's in season today. The full calendar is below.
Make a garden plan for Shelton Pick your plants and get a dated, printable to-do list.
West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.
Gardening in Seattle and Puget Sound. Summers here are mild and rarely very hot, so heat lovers like peppers, melons and big tomatoes ripen slowly: give them your warmest, sunniest spot. Slugs love the wet months, and July and August are dry enough that beds need watering.
Frost date isn't planting date. The typical last frost in Shelton is April 27, but tomatoes wait until May 15, about 3 weeks later, because the soil is still too cold for them to grow. Why soil temperature matters.
How the season in Shelton compares
With 172 frost-free days, Shelton has the 49th-longest season of the 86 Oregon, Washington and Idaho towns we cover. They run from 72 days in McCall to 330 days in Brookings and Gold Beach.
The typical last frost here, April 27, is in the middle of the towns we cover in Seattle and Puget Sound: 56 days later than Seattle and Tacoma and 2 days earlier than Olympia.
The gap between the typical last frost and the date it's over in 9 years out of 10 is 15 days, about average for the towns on this site. Frost after the typical date still happens about half the time, so plan on covering warm crops until May 12.
The season is long enough for every warm crop on our list, even pumpkins and sweet potatoes, to finish from a normal planting date.
For a fall and winter garden, sow carrots by August 6 and set out kale plants by August 20. Fall crops here are timed to the first frost (October 16 on average) and to shortening days.
Planting calendar
Pick a group to see when each plant goes in, or search for one.
Salad greens 7 plants
- SpinachPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 20
- Again for fall Aug 20 – Sep 10
- LettucePlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Feb 2–16
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Again for fall Aug 20 – Sep 3
- Swiss chardPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- Again for fall Aug 6–20
- ArugulaPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 27
- Again for fall Aug 27 – Sep 17
- CeleryPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Mar 6–20
- Plant May 15 – Jun 19
- MâchePlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 20
- Again for fall Aug 13 – Sep 17
- RadicchioPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Feb 16 – Mar 2
- Plant Mar 30 – May 4
- Again for fall Jul 9–30
Cabbage family 9 plants
- KalePlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Feb 16 – Mar 2
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- Again for fall Aug 6–20
- BroccoliPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Feb 9–23
- Plant Mar 30 – May 4
- Again for fall Jul 23 – Aug 6
- CabbagePlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Feb 9–23
- Plant Mar 30 – May 4
- Again for fall Jul 23 – Aug 6
- CauliflowerPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Feb 9–23
- Plant Mar 30 – Apr 27
- Again for fall Jul 16–30
- Brussels sproutsPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Feb 2–16
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- Bok choyPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Feb 9–23
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 20
- Again for fall Aug 20 – Sep 3
- KohlrabiPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Feb 16 – Mar 2
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- Again for fall Aug 13–27
- CollardsPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Feb 16 – Mar 2
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- Again for fall Aug 6–20
- Mustard greensPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 27
- Again for fall Aug 20 – Sep 10
Root vegetables 7 plants
- RadishesPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Again for fall Sep 3–17
- CarrotsPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- Again for fall Jul 23 – Aug 6
- BeetsPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- Again for fall Aug 6–20
- PotatoesPlant seed potatoes
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- TurnipsPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 27
- Again for fall Aug 13–27
- ParsnipsPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- Sweet potatoesPlant rooted cuttings (slips)
- Plant May 25 – Jun 15
Onion family 4 plants
Peas and beans 4 plants
- PeasPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 27
- Bush beansPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant May 10 – Jun 21
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- Pole beansPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant May 10 – Jun 14
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- Fava beansPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 20
- Again for fall Oct 1–31
Tomatoes and summer crops 6 plants
- Sweet cornPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant May 10 – Jun 14
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- TomatoesPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Plant May 15 – Jun 12
- PeppersPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Mar 16–30
- Plant May 25 – Jun 15
- EggplantPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Mar 16–30
- Plant May 25 – Jun 15
- TomatillosPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Plant May 15 – Jun 12
- Ground cherriesPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Mar 27 – Apr 10
- Plant May 15 – Jun 12
Squash, cucumbers and melons 5 plants
- CucumbersPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Apr 17–24
- Plant May 15 – Jun 12
- Zucchini and summer squashPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Apr 17–24
- Plant May 15 – Jun 12
- Winter squashPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Apr 17–24
- Plant May 15 – Jun 5
- MelonsPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Apr 27 – May 4
- Plant May 25 – Jun 15
- PumpkinsPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Apr 17–24
- Plant May 15 – Jun 5
Herbs 13 plants
- BasilPlant young plants (starts)
- Indoors Apr 13–27
- Plant May 25 – Jun 22
- CilantroPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – May 4
- Again for fall Aug 27 – Sep 10
- ParsleyPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Feb 2–16
- Plant Mar 30 – May 18
- DillPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 30 – Jun 1
- ChivesPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Feb 2–16
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- MintPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- RosemaryPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 18
- ThymePlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- OreganoPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- LavenderPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- SagePlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- Lemon balmPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- TarragonPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
Berries 10 plants
- StrawberriesPlant young plants
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- BlueberriesPlant potted or bare-root bushes
- Plant Mar 30 – May 18
- RaspberriesPlant bare-root canes
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- BlackberriesPlant bare-root or potted canes
- Plant Mar 16 – May 4
- GrapesPlant bare-root or potted vines
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Hardy kiwiPlant potted vines
- Plant Mar 30 – May 18
- HoneyberriesPlant potted bushes
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- CurrantsPlant bare-root or potted bushes
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- GooseberriesPlant bare-root or potted bushes
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- ElderberriesPlant bare-root or potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
Perennial vegetables 5 plants
- AsparagusPlant dormant crowns
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- RhubarbPlant dormant crowns
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 27
- ArtichokesPlant young plants (starts)
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- SorrelPlant seeds or young plants
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- HorseradishPlant root cuttings
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 27
Fruit and nut trees 11 plants
- Apple treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Pear treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Plum treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Cherry treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Fig treesPlant potted trees
- Plant Mar 30 – May 25
- Peach treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Hazelnut treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Persimmon treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Asian pear treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Quince treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Mulberry treesPlant bare-root or potted trees
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
Native plants 15 plants
- HuckleberriesPlant potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Oregon grapePlant potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Red-flowering currantPlant potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- ServiceberryPlant bare-root or potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- CamasPlant bulbs
- Fall Oct 1 – Nov 15
- ThimbleberryPlant bare-root or potted plants
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- SalmonberryPlant bare-root or potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- SalalPlant potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- KinnikinnickPlant potted plants
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Western columbinePlant potted plants or seeds
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Douglas asterPlant potted plants
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Oregon sunshinePlant potted plants or seeds
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Pacific ninebarkPlant bare-root or potted shrubs
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Sword fernPlant potted plants
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
- Oregon irisPlant potted plants or divisions
- Plant Mar 16 – May 11
Flowers 13 plants
- DahliasPlant tubers
- Plant May 15 – Jun 12
- SunflowersPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant May 10 – Jun 21
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- Sweet peasPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 16 – Apr 20
- TulipsPlant bulbs
- Fall Oct 1 – Nov 15
- DaffodilsPlant bulbs
- Fall Oct 1 – Nov 15
- ZinniasPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant May 10 – Jun 21
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- PeoniesPlant bare-root divisions
- Fall Oct 1 – Nov 15
- CosmosPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Mar 29 – Apr 12
- Plant May 10 – Jun 21
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- NasturtiumsPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant May 10 – Jun 21
Frost possible until about May 12: keep frost cover handy.
- MarigoldsPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Apr 3–17
- Plant May 15 – Jun 19
- CalendulaPlant seeds in the ground
- Plant Mar 30 – May 18
- Again for fall Aug 6–20
- RanunculusPlant soaked corms
- Plant Mar 30 – May 4
- SnapdragonsPlant seeds or young plants
- Indoors Jan 19 – Feb 2
- Plant Mar 30 – May 11
- Start seeds indoors
- Plant in the garden
- Plant again for fall
- Today
- Frost possible
- Frost likely
New to this? Read the beginner's guide or look up a term in the glossary.
ZIP codes that use these dates: 98584, 98528, 98524. Look up another ZIP.
Where these dates come from
The frost dates for Shelton come from the NOAA weather station at Shelton Sanderson Field, about 3 miles northwest of Shelton, at 270 feet. It's the closest weather station to Shelton with NOAA's 1991–2020 frost records. It's an airport station, out on open ground, so a garden in town, on a slope or in a low spot can run a few days earlier or later.
They're NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals: 30-year averages, not a forecast. How we pick each town's station.
Common questions about frost in Shelton
When is the last frost in Shelton?
April 27 in a typical year. Frost is over by May 12 in 9 years out of 10, Tender plants like tomatoes wait longer than that, for warm soil: see the tomato question below.
When is the first frost in Shelton?
Around October 16. It comes as early as October 1 in 1 year out of 10.
When can I plant tomatoes in Shelton?
Set out tomato plants May 15 – Jun 12, after starting seeds indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3.
When should I plant garlic in Shelton?
Plant garlic cloves Oct 1 – Nov 15, and harvest next summer when the lower leaves turn brown.
How long is the growing season in Shelton?
About 172 frost-free days, shorter than most of the 86 Oregon, Washington and Idaho towns we cover.