Rainline GardenJohn Day, OR frost dates and planting calendar
The typical last spring frost in John Day is May 28, and the first fall frost is around September 18. Plant peas from Apr 20; plant tomatoes from May 28.
High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.
Frost dates are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for John Day (934 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 John Day. Tap one for planting dates and step-by-step instructions, or read the beginner's guide.
RadishesReady in about four weeks, so you see results fast.
LettuceGrows in cool weather and a bit of shade, and you can pick it for weeks.
Bush beansBig seeds that are easy to plant, and one sowing feeds you all summer.
Zucchini and summer squashTwo plants are plenty. It almost always produces.
KaleShrugs off Northwest cold and keeps going into winter.
Make a garden plan for John Day Pick your plants and get a dated, printable to-do list.
Planting calendar
- Start seeds indoors
- Plant in the garden
- Plant again for fall
- Frost possible
- Frost likely
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 John Day
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the garden | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
 PeasPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | — |
RadishesPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 15 | Aug 7–21 |
 SpinachPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – May 25 | Jul 24 – Aug 14 |
LettucePlant seeds or young plants | Mar 9–23 | Apr 20 – Jun 15 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
 OnionsPlant small onion bulbs (sets) | — | Apr 20 – May 25 | — |
 CarrotsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | — |
 BeetsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | Jul 10–24 |
KalePlant young plants (starts) | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Jul 10–24 |
 BroccoliPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 12–26 | Apr 30 – Jun 4 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
 CabbagePlant young plants (starts) | Mar 12–26 | Apr 30 – Jun 4 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
 Swiss chardPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | Jul 10–24 |
 PotatoesPlant seed potatoes | — | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | — |
Bush beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | Jun 4 – Jul 16 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet cornPlant seeds in the ground | — | Jun 4 – Jul 9 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CucumbersPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 30 – May 7 | May 28 – Jun 25 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
Zucchini and summer squashPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 30 – May 7 | May 28 – Jun 25 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Winter squash and pumpkinsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 30 – May 7 | May 28 – Jun 18 Tight season: choose an early variety Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 TomatoesPlant young plants (starts) | Apr 2–16 | May 28 – Jun 25 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 PeppersPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 28 – Jun 18 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 BasilPlant young plants (starts) | Apr 16–30 | May 28 – Jun 25 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 DahliasPlant tubers | — | May 28 – Jun 25 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CilantroPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 8 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
 ParsleyPlant seeds or young plants | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30 – Jun 18 | — |
 DillPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 30 – Jul 2 | — |
 StrawberriesPlant young plants | — | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | — |
 BlueberriesPlant potted or bare-root bushes | — | Apr 30 – Jun 18 | — |
 RaspberriesPlant bare-root canes | — | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | — |
 GarlicPlant cloves | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 15 |
 CauliflowerPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 12–26 | Apr 30 – May 28 | Jun 19 – Jul 3 |
 Brussels sproutsPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | — |
 LeeksPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | — |
 ArugulaPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Jul 31 – Aug 21 |
 Bok choyPlant seeds or young plants | Mar 16–30 | Apr 20 – May 25 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
 TurnipsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Jul 17–31 |
 KohlrabiPlant seeds or young plants | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Jul 17–31 |
 EggplantPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 28 – Jun 18 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 MelonsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 30 – May 7 | May 28 – Jun 18 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Pole beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | Jun 4 – Jul 9 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Fava beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – May 25 | — |
 ShallotsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 15 |
 AsparagusPlant dormant crowns | — | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | — |
 RhubarbPlant dormant crowns | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | — |
 ChivesPlant seeds or young plants | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | — |
 MintPlant young plants | — | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | — |
 RosemaryPlant young plants | — | Apr 30 – Jun 18 | — |
 ThymePlant young plants | — | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | — |
 OreganoPlant young plants | — | Apr 30 – Jun 25 | — |
 SunflowersPlant seeds in the ground | — | Jun 4 – Jul 16 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet peasPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – May 25 | — |
 TulipsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 15 |
 DaffodilsPlant bulbs | — | — | Oct 15 – 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.