What Grows in Point Roberts, Washington

USDA Zones 3a-4b · 3K acres

Point Roberts, Washington, sits in USDA hardiness zones 3a-4b — a band that supports both cool-season staples and warm-season crops chosen to fit the local frost window.

On paper, apple, cherry, hop, and blueberry all suit these conditions — on the ground, soil, sun, and drainage make the final call.

Score your parcel · free

Even in Point Roberts, no two yards are alike.

A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Point Roberts lot. 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.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

3a-4b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

May 20

Whatcom County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Oct 14

Whatcom County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

Town Area

3K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

3a
4b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Zone maps are averages across Point Roberts. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Point Roberts?

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 Apr 22; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near May 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 14 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Short seasons reward decisiveness — quick-maturing varieties late, hardy greens under cover, and next year’s garlic in the ground before it closes.

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.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

7

within ~10 miles of Point Roberts

Risk Level

Low

Highest-severity

7 underground storage tanks

Sources Checked

within ~10 miles of Point Roberts

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of Point Roberts

High0Moderate7Low0

Highest-Severity Sites

Can-Am Petroleum
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Dylan'S Shipping Station
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Point Roberts Chevron
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Point Roberts Marina
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Point Roberts Texaco
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)

Know Before You Grow

  • Underground tanks can leak petroleum products. Soil testing near former gas stations is recommended.
Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Point Roberts

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:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

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

Point Roberts Average

  • USDA Zones 3a-4b
  • 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

Free Report

Read your specific parcel in Point Roberts

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Point Roberts, Washington — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

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 Point Roberts, Washington

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3a-4b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): May 20 (whatcom county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 14 (whatcom county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~147 (whatcom county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 3K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Point Roberts, Washington?

Point Roberts sits in USDA hardiness zones 3a-4b, 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 Point Roberts?

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 Apr 22; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near May 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 14 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Short seasons reward decisiveness — quick-maturing varieties late, hardy greens under cover, and next year’s garlic in the ground before it closes.

When does frost risk typically end in Point Roberts?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Point Roberts typically lands around May 20, 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.

When is the first frost in Point Roberts?

The first hard freeze (28°F) in Point Roberts typically arrives around Oct 14, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — the point most tender summer crops finish. Lighter frosts usually reach a couple of weeks earlier, so watch the forecast from late summer on and harvest or cover tender plants before the first cold night.

What vegetables grow in Point Roberts?

Point Roberts's zones 3a-4b support a wide range — strong performers include Apple, Cherry, Hop, Blueberry, and Raspberry. 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 Point Roberts, really?

Officially, Point Roberts sits in USDA zones 3a-4b (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 Point Roberts?

The federal record around Point Roberts is light — 7 documented sites across the 9 federal source types we checked — and proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. Growing food here starts from a strong position; a soil test before new food beds settles any site-specific question.

How do gardeners stretch the season in Point Roberts?

With about 147 frost-free days between hard freezes, Point Roberts rewards the classic extension moves: floating row cover buys roughly two to four extra weeks at each shoulder, cold frames and low tunnels more, and quick-maturing varieties make the arithmetic work. Starting transplants indoors ahead of the May 20 hard-freeze normal stretches the season without touching the calendar.

Everything on this page is a Point Roberts 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.