Bend, Oregon: planting zone & frost dates
Bend is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, where the average coldest winter night reaches -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jun 14 and the first fall frost around Sep 12.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Jun 22 | Sep 3 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jun 14 | Sep 12 |
| Median (50%) | Jun 6 | Sep 20 |
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 BEND, OR (USC00350694), 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from the city center and 23 ft higher than the city center (+7 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 23 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Bend
All 3 ZIP codes covering Bend are in zone 6b.
Vegetable planting calendar for Bend
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jun 14, first frost Sep 12). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Short season (90 frost-free days): choose early varieties. | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | — | — |
| Pepper Short season (90 frost-free days): choose early varieties. | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 28 – Jul 12 | — | — |
| Lettuce | May 3 – May 17 | May 31 – Jun 21 | May 17 – Jun 28 | — |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jun 21 – Jul 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn Short season (90 frost-free days): choose early varieties. | — | — | Jun 21 – Jul 19 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | May 17 – May 24 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | Jun 21 – Jul 12 | — |
| Cucumber Short season (90 frost-free days): choose early varieties. | May 17 – May 24 | Jun 28 – Jul 5 | Jun 21 – Jul 12 | — |
| Carrot | — | — | May 24 – Jun 28 | — |
| Onion | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 17 – May 31 | — | — |
| Potato | — | May 17 – Jun 7 | — | — |
| Basil Short season (90 frost-free days): choose early varieties. | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 28 – Jul 12 | Jun 28 – Jul 19 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | May 3 – May 31 | Jul 18 – Aug 15 |
| Kale | Apr 19 – May 3 | May 17 – Jun 7 | May 17 – Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Apr 19 – May 3 | May 31 – Jun 21 | — | — |
| Peas | — | — | May 3 – May 24 | — |
| Eggplant Short season (90 frost-free days): choose early varieties. | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 28 – Jul 12 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Apr 19 – May 3 | May 17 – May 31 | — | — |
| Radish | — | — | May 10 – Jun 28 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 |
| Strawberry | — | May 17 – Jun 7 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | May 24 – Jul 5 | — |
Nearby cities in Oregon
- Eugene — zone 8b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 15
- Gresham — zone 9a, last frost Mar 27, first frost Nov 9
- Salem — zone 8b, last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 26
- Portland — zone 9a, last frost Mar 6, first frost Nov 22
- Beaverton — zone 9a, last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 29
- Hillsboro — zone 8b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 14
More: all Oregon cities · other zone 6b cities: Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, Kansas City, MO, Cincinnati, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Buffalo, NY
Bend gardening questions
When is the last frost in Bend, OR?
Plan around Jun 14. At NOAA's Bend, OR station, 1.1 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Jun 6, and after Jun 22 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around May 11. The 90% and 10% dates are 36 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bend, OR?
Start seeds indoors Apr 19 – May 3 and set transplants outside Jun 21 – Jul 5, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. The 90 days between the 30% frost dates are tight for full-size tomatoes, so choose early or cherry varieties and your warmest, most sheltered spot. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Bend?
About 105 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 81 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 129 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Sep 3 and a 30% chance by Sep 12. That is the shortest of the 8 Oregon cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Bend?
Count back from the first fall frost (Sep 12): sow radishes Aug 1 – Aug 29. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Oct 4. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Bend's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Bend is zone 6b on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Bend compare with Eugene, OR?
Bend is zone 6b and Eugene is zone 8b. The typical last spring frost in Bend (Jun 14) comes about 50 days later than in Eugene, OR (Apr 25), 90 miles away, and the first fall frost is Sep 12 versus Oct 15. Bend sits about 3,223 ft higher, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.