Rainline Garden My garden plan

Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR frost dates and planting calendar

The typical last spring frost in Hillsboro and Beaverton is April 16, and the first fall frost is around October 23. Plant peas from Mar 5; plant tomatoes from May 10.

Last spring frostApril 16Typical date. Frost is over by May 3 in 9 years out of 10.
First fall frostOctober 23Typical date. Comes as early as Oct 3 in 1 year out of 10.
Frost-free season190 daysYour growing season for frost-tender crops like tomatoes and squash.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Frost dates are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Portland-Hillsboro Airport (62 m elevation). Gardens in cold hollows or at higher elevation can frost later in spring and earlier in fall.

What to plant now

Turn on JavaScript to see what's in season today. The full calendar is below.

New to gardening? Start with these 5 easy crops

They're forgiving, quick and hard to kill in Hillsboro and Beaverton. Tap one for planting dates and step-by-step instructions, or read the beginner's guide.

Planting calendar

How to read this: each bar shows when to do that job. Dashed bars are for starting seeds indoors in trays; solid bars are for planting in the garden.

Planting dates for Hillsboro and Beaverton

CropStart seeds indoorsPlant in the gardenPlant again for fall
PeasPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 16—
RadishesPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 30Sep 3–17
SpinachPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 9Aug 20 – Sep 10
LettucePlant seeds or young plants
Jan 22 – Feb 5Mar 5 – Apr 30Aug 20 – Sep 3
OnionsPlant small onion bulbs (sets)
—Mar 5 – Apr 9—
CarrotsPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 19 – May 14Jul 23 – Aug 6
BeetsPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 19 – May 14Aug 6–20
KalePlant young plants (starts)
Feb 5–19Mar 19 – Apr 30Aug 6–20
BroccoliPlant young plants (starts)
Jan 29 – Feb 12Mar 19 – Apr 23Jul 23 – Aug 6
CabbagePlant young plants (starts)
Jan 29 – Feb 12Mar 19 – Apr 23Jul 23 – Aug 6
Swiss chardPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 19 – May 14Aug 6–20
PotatoesPlant seed potatoes
—Mar 19 – Apr 30—
Bush beansPlant seeds in the ground
—May 10 – Jun 21—
Sweet cornPlant seeds in the ground
—May 10 – Jun 14—
CucumbersPlant seeds or young plants
Apr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7—
Zucchini and summer squashPlant seeds or young plants
Apr 12–19May 10 – Jun 7—
Winter squash and pumpkinsPlant seeds or young plants
Apr 12–19May 10–31—
TomatoesPlant young plants (starts)
Mar 15–29May 10 – Jun 7—
PeppersPlant young plants (starts)
Mar 1–15May 10–31—
BasilPlant young plants (starts)
Mar 29 – Apr 12May 10 – Jun 7—
DahliasPlant tubers
—May 10 – Jun 7—
CilantroPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 23Aug 27 – Sep 10
ParsleyPlant seeds or young plants
Jan 22 – Feb 5Mar 19 – May 7—
DillPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 19 – May 21—
StrawberriesPlant young plants
—Mar 19 – Apr 30—
BlueberriesPlant potted or bare-root bushes
—Mar 19 – May 7—
RaspberriesPlant bare-root canes
—Mar 19 – Apr 30—
GarlicPlant cloves
——Oct 1 – Nov 15
CauliflowerPlant young plants (starts)
Jan 29 – Feb 12Mar 19 – Apr 16Jul 16–30
Brussels sproutsPlant young plants (starts)
Jan 22 – Feb 5Mar 19 – Apr 30—
LeeksPlant young plants (starts)
Jan 8–22Mar 19 – Apr 30—
ArugulaPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 16Aug 27 – Sep 17
Bok choyPlant seeds or young plants
Jan 29 – Feb 12Mar 5 – Apr 9Aug 20 – Sep 3
TurnipsPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 16Aug 13–27
KohlrabiPlant seeds or young plants
Feb 5–19Mar 19 – Apr 30Aug 13–27
EggplantPlant young plants (starts)
Mar 1–15May 10–31—
MelonsPlant seeds or young plants
Apr 12–19May 10–31—
Pole beansPlant seeds in the ground
—May 10 – Jun 14—
Fava beansPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 9—
ShallotsPlant bulbs
——Oct 1 – Nov 15
AsparagusPlant dormant crowns
—Mar 19 – Apr 30—
RhubarbPlant dormant crowns
—Mar 5 – Apr 16—
ChivesPlant seeds or young plants
Jan 22 – Feb 5Mar 19 – May 14—
MintPlant young plants
—Mar 19 – May 14—
RosemaryPlant young plants
—Mar 19 – May 7—
ThymePlant young plants
—Mar 19 – May 14—
OreganoPlant young plants
—Mar 19 – May 14—
SunflowersPlant seeds in the ground
—May 10 – Jun 21—
Sweet peasPlant seeds in the ground
—Mar 5 – Apr 9—
TulipsPlant bulbs
——Oct 1 – Nov 15
DaffodilsPlant bulbs
——Oct 1 – Nov 15

Dates are a guide, not a guarantee. Check the soil before planting: cool-season crops need it workable and not soggy; warm-season crops need it warm. A $10 soil thermometer pays for itself. Unfamiliar terms are explained in the glossary.

Nearby areas with similar weather

All Oregon and Washington cities or use the planner with your ZIP.