Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Bend, OR

The average first fall frost in Bend, OR is September 20, and the average last spring frost is June 6, giving a growing season of about 105 days.

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.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Bend Compares

Bend's typical last spring frost (Jun 6) comes later than in 94% of the 68 Oregon cities we track.
Its 105-day growing season is 111 days shorter than the Oregon median of 216 days.
July is the warmest month (average high 84°F) and December the coldest (average low 23°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
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.

Herbs
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.

Flowers
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.