King County, in Washington, sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b — room for a real mix of vegetables, fruit, and perennials matched to the local frost calendar.
On paper, apple, cherry, hop, and grape all suit these conditions — on the ground, soil, sun, and drainage make the final call.
King County lies within the Pacific Northwest — a regional growing area with its own character.
Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring · NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
King County holds more than one microclimate.
Soils and elevations shift across King County, so your frost dates and drainage aren't the county average. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Quick Facts
USDA Zones
8b
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Jan 6
County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later
First Hard Freeze (28°F)
Dec 13
County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier
County Area
1.4M acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across King County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil in King County
Across King County, the ground is predominantly Spodosols, where Alderwood, Playco, and Pitcher are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a gravelly sandy loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.0–5.8, strongly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group B soils.
Soil order
Spodosols
Drainage
Well drained
Prime farmland
4%
Hydric soils
5%
Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in King County
Plants matched to King County's USDA zones 8b — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in King County?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Jan 1; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Jan 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Dec 13 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Here the calendar nearly circles: cool-season crops take the winter shift, and the next window is always close.
Growing Challenges in Washington
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
Extreme rain divide: 90+ inches west, 6 inches east of Cascades
Plant to your side of the Cascades, not to the state — your exact spot's rainfall decides the whole plan.
East side requires irrigation — no rain from June through September
With no summer rain, drip lines and deep mulch are the growing season — set them up before June.
Slug and root rot pressure on the wet west side
Raise the beds, bait the slugs, and water mornings only — the wet-side trio that keeps roots and leaves healthy; extension has the details.
Short seasons at elevation in the Cascades and northeast corners
In the short-season corners, fast varieties plus a cold frame or tunnel reliably close the gap.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Washington, the WSU Extension is the authoritative local source.
Safe to Grow Here?
What the federal record shows across King County — and how to grow with it.
We checked the federal record across King County — 6,301 documented sites across 8 of the 9 source types we track.
The most significant on record: 37 Superfund sites. Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.
King County carries one of the heavier federal records we track — and that's not a verdict on your yard. Proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis: nothing here says any particular parcel is affected. It does earn one concrete step — before food beds go in the ground, a professional soil test tells you exactly what you're working with, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well almost anywhere in the meantime.
Sources: EPA, USGS — 1.8M documented sites tracked nationwide across 9 federal source types.
Environmental Intelligence
Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.
Severity Distribution
across King County
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around King County, Underground Storage Tanks runs higher than the national average — 3,922 sites nearby. It's not cause for alarm — it's worth knowing, and there's a sensible way to grow around it.
Underground Storage Tanks: Underground storage tanks are the single most common source of soil contamination near homes and gardens.
Use raised beds with imported soil — this eliminates the primary soil-contact pathway.
Check your specific parcel in King County
Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Your Specific Parcel Matters
King County Average
- ●USDA Zones 8b
- ●Generic soil type for the area
- ●State-average frost dates
YOUR Parcel
- ✓Your exact hardiness zone
- ✓Your SSURGO soil type & pH
- ✓Your sun exposure, cast in 3D
See MY Growing Report
Read your parcel in King County
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in King County, Washington — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Key Growing Facts for King County, Washington
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8b (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Jan 6 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Dec 13 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
- Days Between Hard Freezes: ~341 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- County Land Area: 1.4M acres (US Census TIGER 2025)
Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. County boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.
Frost dates here are the King County average. Low spots and tree cover move them by days on any one yard — see your exact frost windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zone is King County, Washington?
King County sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.
Is it too late to plant in King County?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Jan 1; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Jan 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Dec 13 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Here the calendar nearly circles: cool-season crops take the winter shift, and the next window is always close.
When does frost risk typically end in King County?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in King County typically lands around Jan 6, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.
How long is the growing season in King County?
Measured between 28°F hard freezes, King County sees about 341 frost-free days — roughly Jan 6 through Dec 13, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Tender crops get a somewhat shorter practical window, since lighter frosts reach a few weeks past the hard-freeze dates on both ends.
What vegetables grow in King County?
King County's zone 8b supports a wide range — strong performers include Apple, Cherry, Hop, Grape, and Blueberry. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.
Which hardiness zone is King County, really?
Officially, King County sits in USDA zone 8b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.
Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in King County?
The federal record around King County runs heavier than most — 6,301 documented sites — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.
Just moved to King County — what should I know before planting?
Start with three facts. King County sits in USDA zone 8b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Jan 6, with about 341 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 6,301 documented sites sit on the federal record here, so a soil test before food beds is the smart first step. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.
Everything on this page is a King County average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.
Will It Grow Here?
Zone fit is the first question — each answer below reads Washington's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.