USDA hardiness zone lookup
Kent, WA — USDA Zone 8b
Kent, Washington · 217-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season in Kent
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 8b |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | April 1 |
| Average first fall frost | November 4 |
| Growing season length | ~217 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 10 to 20°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -12 to -7°C |
All of Kent's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 8b.
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Kent's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by April 1, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.
Growing season in Kent
Kent, Washington sits in USDA Zone 8b, with roughly 217 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around April 1 and a first fall frost around November 4. That is a long season — succession-sow through summer and run a full fall crop; heat-sensitive greens still need spring/autumn timing.
What grows in Kent
Kent falls in USDA Zone 8b, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 8 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 8b (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Tomatoes (spring + fall plantings)
- Peppers (sweet + hot)
- Okra
- Sweet potatoes
- Southern peas
- Melons, watermelon
- Figs
- Pomegranates
- Citrus (in protected spots — Meyer lemon)
- Pecans
What to plant in Kent this week
Kent is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 8
- When to plant peppers in zone 8
- When to plant bush beans in zone 8
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 8
- When to plant basil in zone 8
Full planting calendar for Kent
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 8 averages:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 8
- When to plant peppers in zone 8
- When to plant basil in zone 8
- When to plant garlic in zone 8
- When to plant lettuce in zone 8
- When to plant bush beans in zone 8
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 8
- When to plant summer squash in zone 8
- When to plant peas in zone 8
- When to plant carrots in zone 8
ZIP codes in Kent
Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Kent:
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Kentgardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.
Source and methodology
Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Kent's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.
Other cities in Washington
- Bellevue, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Bellingham, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Bothell, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Ellensburg, WA — USDA Zone 6b
- Everett, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Federal Way, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Kennewick, WA — USDA Zone 7a
- Kirkland, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Marysville, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Moses Lake, WA — USDA Zone 6b
- Olympia, WA — USDA Zone 8b
- Pasco, WA — USDA Zone 7a
- All of Washington by zone