Frost dates & planting calendar for Portland, OR
Frost dates
Feb 25
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Mar 21. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Dec 1
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Nov 10. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
280
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
8b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 15 to 20°F (−9.4 to −6.7°C).
Zone for ZIP 97212, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 8b means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 280 days. Station: Portland Kgw-Tv, OR, 4 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Jan 24 to Feb 7, then plant them out from Mar 21 to Apr 4.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Mar 21 in spring, Nov 10 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 3 weeks in spring, with more risk.
January
The next window opens in January.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Jan 10
- Start indoors
- Jan 10 – Jan 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 10
- Start indoors
- Jan 10 – Jan 24
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 28 – Feb 28
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Jan 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 21
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Jan 24
- Start indoors
- Jan 24 – Feb 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
February
The next window opens in February.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 7 – Mar 7
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 7 – Mar 7
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 28
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 28
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 21
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 28 – Feb 28
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 28 – Feb 28
- Sow for fall
- Aug 18 – Sep 1
March
The next window opens in March.
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 14
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Mar 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 21
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
April
The next window opens in April.
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 29
- Sow for fall
- Sep 29 – Sep 29
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Portland?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Portland is Feb 25. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Mar 21.
- When is the first frost in Portland?
- The typical first fall frost is Dec 1. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Nov 10.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Portland?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Jan 24 and Feb 7, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Portland in?
- Portland is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 97212, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Seattle, WA 233 km
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