Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Sandy, OR

The average first fall frost in Sandy, OR is November 18, and the average last spring frost is March 27, giving a growing season of about 239 days.

Plan your garden around Sandy, OR's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

March 27

Safe Apr 20 Typical Mar 27 Risky Feb 26

First Fall Frost

November 18

Safe Oct 26 Typical Nov 18 Risky Dec 10

Growing Season

239 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 8b

Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.

Data: NOAA station HEADWORKS PORTLAND WTR B, OR US, 10.1 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Sandy Compares

Sandy's typical last spring frost (Mar 27) comes earlier than in 56% of the 68 Oregon cities we track.
Its 239-day growing season is 27 days longer than the Oregon median of 212 days.
Compared with Damascus (16 km away), Sandy's last spring frost comes 9 days later than Damascus's, and its first fall frost arrives on the same day.
August is the warmest month (average high 78°F) and December the coldest (average low 35°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 30 – Feb 13	—	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Jan 16 – Jan 30	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	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	Jan 16 – Jan 30	—	Apr 10 – Apr 17	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Feb 27 – Mar 6	Apr 3 – Apr 10	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	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	Mar 6 – Mar 13	Apr 3 – Apr 17	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	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	Feb 27 – Mar 6	Apr 3 – Apr 17	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	—	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	Feb 27 – Mar 6	—	Apr 10 – Apr 17	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Feb 27 – Mar 6	—	Apr 10 – Apr 17	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Mar 27 – Apr 10	—	—	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	—	Mar 27 – Apr 10	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Feb 13 – Feb 27	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	Sep 23 – Oct 7	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Feb 13 – Feb 27	—	Sep 23 – Oct 7	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	Sep 9 – Sep 23	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	Oct 7 – Oct 14	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Feb 6 – Feb 20	—	Mar 6 – Mar 13	Sep 16 – Sep 23	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	Feb 6 – Feb 20	—	Mar 13 – Mar 20	Sep 9 – Sep 16	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	Feb 6 – Feb 20	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	Sep 9 – Sep 23	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Feb 6 – Feb 20	—	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	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	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	Aug 26 – Sep 9	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	Sep 9 – Sep 23	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Feb 20 – Mar 6	—	Oct 7 – Oct 21	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	Sep 9 – Sep 23	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Jan 16 – Jan 30	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	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	—	—	—	Oct 21 – Nov 4	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	—	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	—	—	Apr 10 – Apr 24	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Feb 27 – Mar 13	—	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	Feb 13 – Feb 20	—	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	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	—	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	Sep 23 – Oct 7	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 30 – Feb 13	—	Mar 13 – Mar 20	—	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	—	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 30 – Feb 13	—	Mar 27 – Apr 3	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 30 – Feb 13	—	Mar 27 – Apr 3	—	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	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Feb 27 – Mar 6	Apr 3 – Apr 17	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Feb 13 – Feb 27	—	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Feb 27 – Mar 6	Apr 3 – Apr 17	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	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 Sandy, OR?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the HEADWORKS PORTLAND WTR B, OR US station, the last spring frost in Sandy typically falls around March 27. A cautious gardener might wait until April 20 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while February 26 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Sandy, OR in fall?

The first fall frost in Sandy typically arrives around November 18. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 26; in milder years it can hold off until December 10.

How long is the growing season in Sandy, OR?

Sandy's average frost-free growing season is about 239 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 27) to the typical first fall frost (November 18).

What USDA hardiness zone is Sandy, OR in?

Sandy, OR is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.