Rainline GardenMadras, OR frost dates and planting calendar
The typical last spring frost in Madras is May 19, and the first fall frost is around October 4. Plant peas from Apr 20; plant tomatoes from May 25.
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 Madras (745 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 Madras. 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 Madras 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 Madras
| 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 23 – Sep 6 |
 SpinachPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – May 25 | Aug 9–30 |
LettucePlant seeds or young plants | Mar 9–23 | Apr 20 – Jun 15 | Aug 9–23 |
 OnionsPlant small onion bulbs (sets) | — | Apr 20 – May 25 | — |
 CarrotsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | Jul 12–26 |
 BeetsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
KalePlant young plants (starts) | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
 BroccoliPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 3–17 | Apr 21 – May 26 | Jul 12–26 |
 CabbagePlant young plants (starts) | Mar 3–17 | Apr 21 – May 26 | Jul 12–26 |
 Swiss chardPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
 PotatoesPlant seed potatoes | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | — |
Bush beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 26 – Jul 7 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Sweet cornPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 26 – Jun 30 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CucumbersPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 27 – May 4 | May 25 – Jun 22 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
Zucchini and summer squashPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 27 – May 4 | May 25 – Jun 22 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Winter squash and pumpkinsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 27 – May 4 | May 25 – Jun 15 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 TomatoesPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 25 – Jun 22 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 PeppersPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 16–30 | May 25 – Jun 15 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 BasilPlant young plants (starts) | Apr 13–27 | May 25 – Jun 22 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 DahliasPlant tubers | — | May 25 – Jun 22 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 CilantroPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 8 | Aug 16–30 |
 ParsleyPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 21 – Jun 9 | — |
 DillPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 21 – Jun 23 | — |
 StrawberriesPlant young plants | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | — |
 BlueberriesPlant potted or bare-root bushes | — | Apr 21 – Jun 9 | — |
 RaspberriesPlant bare-root canes | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | — |
 GarlicPlant cloves | — | — | Oct 15 – Nov 15 |
 CauliflowerPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 3–17 | Apr 21 – May 19 | Jul 5–19 |
 Brussels sproutsPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | — |
 LeeksPlant young plants (starts) | Feb 10–24 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | — |
 ArugulaPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
 Bok choyPlant seeds or young plants | Mar 16–30 | Apr 20 – May 25 | Aug 9–23 |
 TurnipsPlant seeds in the ground | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Aug 2–16 |
 KohlrabiPlant seeds or young plants | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Aug 2–16 |
 EggplantPlant young plants (starts) | Mar 16–30 | May 25 – Jun 15 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 MelonsPlant seeds or young plants | Apr 27 – May 4 | May 25 – Jun 15 Keep frost cover handy at first | — |
 Pole beansPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 26 – Jun 30 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 21 – Jun 2 | — |
 RhubarbPlant dormant crowns | — | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | — |
 ChivesPlant seeds or young plants | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | — |
 MintPlant young plants | — | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | — |
 RosemaryPlant young plants | — | Apr 21 – Jun 9 | — |
 ThymePlant young plants | — | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | — |
 OreganoPlant young plants | — | Apr 21 – Jun 16 | — |
 SunflowersPlant seeds in the ground | — | May 26 – Jul 7 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.