A month-by-month guide to growing vegetables and herbs in Ocean Shores — tailored to the
Pacific coastal climate, frost dates, and cool-summer conditions of zip code 98569.
USDA Zone 8b / 9aLast frost ~Feb 15 · First frost ~Dec 1~290-day growing season
2026 ENSO outlook for gardeners
Updated
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2026 ENSO outlook for gardeners:ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation)
is a natural climate cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean that shifts between three phases: El Niño (warmer
ocean), La Niña (cooler ocean), and Neutral — each affecting temperature and rainfall patterns across the
globe, including the Pacific Northwest. We're transitioning out of a weak La Niña into ENSO-neutral this
spring. Forecasters expect El Niño to develop by mid-summer 2026 and potentially strengthen into fall/winter
2026–27. Spring 2026 is already running warmer and drier than normal for the PNW — a modest boost for early
planting. Each month below includes a specific ENSO note with adjustments.
Key:
Start seeds indoors
Direct sow outdoors
Set out transplants
Harvest window
2026 ENSO note
Click any crop tag for details & variety
suggestions
A beginner-friendly explainer from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration) — the U.S. government agency that monitors and forecasts ocean and climate conditions.
Source: NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) ·
Full article at NOAA NESDIS →