Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Gardening in the Inland Northwest

Program Contact: Spokane County Master Gardeners
(509) 477-2181 • mastergardener@spokanecounty.org

Seasonal Jobs in the Garden (PDF)

fall

 

Fall: The average date of the first frost ranges from early to late fall. Check your dates on Washington First Average Frost Date Map. Begin watching weather reports at this time in order to protect frost-sensitive plants. Even after the first frost, we can usually expect several weeks of warm temperatures.

 

winter

Winter: Freezing temperatures, snow and ice. When planning your garden, consider that we are mostly in USDA Zone 6b, but we can plant a large variety of plants by using protective methods such as mulches, tree wraps, wind breaks and utilizing micro climates for more tender plants.

 

spring

Spring: It teases us with warm weather one day and frost the next. It can stay cold and wet for quite some time as well. Be prepared to protect plants with covers, hot caps or row cover. Planting a little late is the safest method. Average last frost date ranges from early to late spring in Spokane County.  Check your dates on Washington Last Average Frost Date Map.

 

summer

Summer: Temperatures can be quite hot, sometimes reaching 100°F. It’s a dry season so we recommend drought-tolerant plants. Plan to irrigate. Our long summer days provide lots of sun for beautiful flowers. Vegetables grow well, but we do recommend short-season varieties when possible.

 

WSU Extension website: Gardening in Washington State