Zip code 98569 · Grays Harbor County, WA

Garden Sowing &
Planting Calendar

A month-by-month guide to growing vegetables in Ocean Shores — tailored to the Pacific coastal climate, frost dates, and cool-summer conditions of zip code 98569.

USDA Zone 8b / 9a Last frost ~Feb 15 · First frost ~Dec 1 ~290-day growing season

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. A developing El Niño summer and fall brings warmer, drier conditions to the Pacific Northwest, which is good news for heat-loving crops that normally struggle at Ocean Shores. Fall/winter 2026–27 under El Niño is likely warmer and drier — watch irrigation needs and expect the mild winter may allow even earlier sowing in early 2027. 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

Learn more

What is El Niño & ENSO?

A beginner-friendly explainer from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) — the U.S. government agency that monitors and forecasts ocean and climate conditions. This short video covers how El Niño forms, why it happens, and how it affects weather around the world, including the Pacific Northwest.

Source: NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) · Full article at NOAA NESDIS →