Portland, Oregon: planting zone & frost dates
Portland is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 6 and the first fall frost around Nov 22.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 6 | Nov 22 |
| Median (50%) | Feb 25 | Dec 1 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station PORTLAND KGW-TV, OR (USC00356749), 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from the city center and 3 ft lower than the city center (-1 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 24 years.
Hardiness zone across Portland
Portland spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 29 ZIP codes): 9a (67%), 8b (33%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
ZIP codes in Portland and their zones
| ZIP | Zone | Share of city land |
|---|---|---|
| 97203 | 9a | 8.1% |
| 97219 | 8b | 7.7% |
| 97217 | 9a | 7.4% |
| 97210 | 8b | 6.1% |
| 97220 | 9a | 5.5% |
| 97211 | 9a | 5.3% |
| 97236 | 9a | 5.2% |
| 97230 | 9a | 5.1% |
| 97218 | 9a | 5.0% |
| 97202 | 9a | 4.7% |
| 97206 | 9a | 4.4% |
| 97266 | 9a | 4.4% |
| 97231 | 8b | 3.4% |
| 97213 | 8b | 3.0% |
| 97229 | 8b | 3.0% |
| 97221 | 8b | 2.7% |
| 97239 | 8b | 2.7% |
| 97233 | 9a | 2.3% |
| 97214 | 9a | 2.2% |
| 97212 | 8b | 2.0% |
| 97216 | 9a | 1.9% |
| 97215 | 9a | 1.7% |
| 97201 | 8b | 1.4% |
| 97232 | 9a | 1.4% |
| 97227 | 9a | 1.1% |
| 97209 | 9a | 0.8% |
| 97205 | 8b | 0.7% |
| 97204 | 9a | 0.2% |
| 97208 | 9a | 0.0% |
Vegetable planting calendar for Portland
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 6, first frost Nov 22). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | — | — |
| Pepper | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Feb 20 – Mar 13 | Feb 6 – Mar 20 | Sep 13 – Oct 11 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Mar 13 – Apr 17 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Mar 13 – Apr 10 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Cucumber | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | Mar 20 – Mar 27 | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Carrot | — | — | Feb 13 – Mar 20 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Onion | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | — | — |
| Basil | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Jan 23 – Feb 20 | Sep 27 – Oct 25 |
| Kale | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | Sep 13 – Oct 11 |
| Broccoli | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Feb 20 – Mar 13 | — | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | — | Jan 23 – Feb 13 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Eggplant | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Radish | — | — | Jan 30 – Mar 20 | Oct 11 – Nov 8 |
| Strawberry | — | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Feb 13 – Mar 27 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
Nearby cities in Oregon
- Beaverton — zone 9a, last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 29
- Gresham — zone 9a, last frost Mar 27, first frost Nov 9
- Hillsboro — zone 8b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 14
- Salem — zone 8b, last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 26
- Eugene — zone 8b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 15
- Bend — zone 6b, last frost Jun 14, first frost Sep 12
More: all Oregon cities · other zone 9a cities: San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Tucson, AZ, Baton Rouge, LA, Tallahassee, FL, Mobile, AL