When to plant tomatoes in Bend and Redmond, OR

Start tomatoes from seed indoors Apr 14–28, then plant the young plants in the garden in Bend and Redmond Jun 9 – Jul 7.

Moderate Plant young plants (starts)

Why these dates

Bend and Redmond's typical last spring frost is June 9. Frost kills tomatoes, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around June 9. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

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.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun; the hottest spot you have
Spacing: 2 feet apart
Planting depth: Bury the stem up to the first leaves
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 75 days after planting

Step by step

Start seeds indoors Apr 14–28 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden Jun 9 – Jul 7, 2 feet apart. Bury the stem up to the first leaves.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Harvest: Pick when fully colored. Before fall rains, pick green tomatoes and ripen them indoors.

Varieties that do well here

Stupice
Early Girl
Sungold (cherry)
Oregon Spring (bred at OSU)

Watch out for

Late blight in wet falls turns leaves and fruit brown. Keep leaves dry and give plants space.

OSU Extension advises waiting for soil consistently above 70°F. Early or cherry varieties ripen most reliably here.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bend and Redmond, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Redmond Roberts Field.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Bend and Redmond?

The spring planting window runs through July 7. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 14.

When should I start tomatoes from seed indoors in Bend and Redmond?

April 14 to April 28, which is 8 to 6 weeks before the June 9 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors: A Northwest TimelineWhen to start tomatoes, peppers and other seeds indoors in Oregon and Washington, plus the simple setup that grows strong seedlings.
How Much to Water Vegetables in a Dry Northwest SummerThe Northwest is rainy for nine months and bone dry for three. How much water vegetables need in summer, when to water, and how to waste less of it.
Raised Beds for Rainy Northwest GardensWhy raised beds suit the Northwest so well, how big and deep to build them, what to fill them with, and the mistakes to avoid.
Growing Vegetables in Containers on a Northwest Balcony or PatioNo yard? Herbs, greens, tomatoes and more grow well in pots. Container sizes, soil, watering and the best crops for small Northwest spaces.
The Best Tomatoes for Cool Northwest SummersWhich tomato varieties actually ripen in Portland, Seattle and the coast, and how to give them the heat they need.
Gardening in Bend and Central Oregon's Short SeasonHow to grow vegetables where frost can come almost any month: what to plant, when, and how to protect it.
Why Northwest Gardeners Should Plant by Soil TemperatureThe air warms up long before the soil does here. A $10 soil thermometer tells you when it's really time to plant beans, squash and tomatoes.

Also plant in Bend and Redmond around the same time

Planting dates for tomatoes in nearby areas

Klamath Falls, OR Jun 9 – Jul 7
Burns, OR Jun 11 – Jul 9
Baker City, OR May 25 – Jun 22

Full planting calendar for Bend and Redmond · Tomatoes in every city