Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Bend, OR
Plan your garden around Bend, OR's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
June 6
Safe Jun 22
Typical Jun 6
Risky May 17
First Fall Frost
September 20
Safe Sep 3
Typical Sep 20
Risky Oct 5
Growing Season
105 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 6b
A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.
Data: NOAA station BEND, OR US, 2.4 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | — | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | — | Jun 20 – Jun 27 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | May 9 – May 16 | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | May 16 – May 23 | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | May 9 – May 16 | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | May 9 – May 16 | — | Jun 20 – Jun 27 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | May 9 – May 16 | — | Jun 20 – Jun 27 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jun 6 – Jun 20 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Jun 6 – Jun 20 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Apr 25 – May 9 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | Jul 26 – Aug 9 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Apr 25 – May 9 | — | Jul 26 – Aug 9 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | Jul 12 – Jul 26 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | Aug 9 – Aug 16 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | May 16 – May 30 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Apr 18 – May 2 | — | May 16 – May 23 | Jul 19 – Jul 26 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Apr 18 – May 2 | — | May 23 – May 30 | Jul 12 – Jul 19 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Apr 18 – May 2 | — | May 9 – May 23 | Jul 12 – Jul 26 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Apr 18 – May 2 | — | May 16 – May 30 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | Jun 28 – Jul 12 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | Jul 12 – Jul 26 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | May 2 – May 16 | — | Aug 9 – Aug 23 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | Jul 12 – Jul 26 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Aug 23 – Sep 6 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Jun 20 – Jul 4 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | May 9 – May 23 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Apr 25 – May 2 | — | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | May 16 – May 30 | — | Jul 26 – Aug 9 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | May 23 – May 30 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | May 16 – May 30 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | Jun 6 – Jun 13 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | — | Jun 6 – Jun 13 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | May 9 – May 16 | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Apr 25 – May 9 | — | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | May 9 – May 16 | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | Jun 13 – Jun 20 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jun 13 – Jun 27 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Bend, OR?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BEND, OR US station, the last spring frost in Bend typically falls around June 6. A cautious gardener might wait until June 22 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while May 17 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Bend, OR in fall?
The first fall frost in Bend typically arrives around September 20. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 3; in milder years it can hold off until October 5.
How long is the growing season in Bend, OR?
Bend's average frost-free growing season is about 105 days, running from the typical last spring frost (June 6) to the typical first fall frost (September 20).
What USDA hardiness zone is Bend, OR in?
Bend, OR is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.