In Portland, the average last spring frost is Feb 25 and the average first fall frost is Dec 1, a growing season of about 279 days (zone 9a). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 14 and move them outside from Mar 11. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 22, lettuce around Oct 6, spinach around Oct 13 and radishes around Oct 27.
Portland at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Feb 25 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 1 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 279 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Portland Kgw-Tv, OR; Portland WFO, OR; and Nature Park-Beaverton, OR, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Portland this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 14
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 14
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 14
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 14
- Start kale indoors: Jan 21
- Start broccoli indoors: Jan 21
- Start cabbage indoors: Jan 21
- Start basil indoors: Jan 28
Coming up in early February: direct sow spinach (Feb 4), direct sow peas (Feb 4), direct sow radishes (Feb 4), transplant lettuce (Feb 11), direct sow carrots (Feb 11), start cucumbers indoors (Feb 11), start zucchini indoors (Feb 11) and start winter squash indoors (Feb 11).
What to plant in Portland this month (February)
- Direct sow spinach: Feb 4
- Direct sow peas: Feb 4
- Direct sow radishes: Feb 4
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 11
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 11
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 11
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 11
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 11
- Direct sow beets: Feb 18
- Transplant kale: Feb 18
- Transplant broccoli: Feb 18
- Transplant cabbage: Feb 18
- Direct sow potatoes: Feb 18
- Transplant onions: Feb 25
Coming up in early March: transplant cucumbers (Mar 4), transplant zucchini (Mar 4), transplant winter squash (Mar 4), direct sow beans (Mar 4), transplant tomatoes (Mar 11), transplant peppers (Mar 11), transplant eggplant (Mar 11) and transplant basil (Mar 11).
What to plant in Portland this month (March)
- Transplant cucumbers: Mar 4
- Transplant zucchini: Mar 4
- Transplant winter squash: Mar 4
- Direct sow beans: Mar 4
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 11
- Transplant peppers: Mar 11
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 11
- Transplant basil: Mar 11
What to plant in Portland this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Portland in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Portland this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Portland in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Portland this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Portland in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Portland this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Portland in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Portland this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Portland in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Portland this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 22
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 22
Coming up in early October: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Oct 6) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Oct 13).
What to plant in Portland this month (October)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 6
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 13
- Plant garlic: Oct 20
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 27
What to plant in Portland this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Portland in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 17.
What to plant in Portland this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 17
Coming up in early January: start tomatoes indoors (Jan 14), start peppers indoors (Jan 14), start eggplant indoors (Jan 14) and start lettuce indoors (Jan 14).
Portland planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 14 | Transplant Mar 11 | From May 28 |
| Peppers | Jan 14 | Transplant Mar 11 | From May 22 |
| Eggplant | Jan 14 | Transplant Mar 11 | From May 25 |
| Basil | Jan 28 | Transplant Mar 11 | From Apr 22 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 17 | Transplant Feb 25 | From Jun 5 |
| Lettuce | Jan 14 | Transplant Feb 11Fall: direct sow Oct 6 | From Mar 23Fall: from Nov 15 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Feb 4Fall: direct sow Oct 13 | From Mar 16Fall: from Nov 22 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Feb 4Fall: direct sow Sep 22 | From Apr 5Fall: from Nov 21 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 4Fall: direct sow Oct 27 | From Mar 1Fall: from Nov 21 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 11 | From Apr 22 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Feb 18 | From Apr 14 |
| Kale | Jan 21 | Transplant Feb 18Fall: direct sow Sep 22 | From Apr 14Fall: from Nov 16 |
| Broccoli | Jan 21 | Transplant Feb 18 | From Apr 24 |
| Cabbage | Jan 21 | Transplant Feb 18 | From Apr 29 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 11 | Transplant Mar 4 | From Apr 28 |
| Zucchini | Feb 11 | Transplant Mar 4 | From Apr 23 |
| Winter squash | Feb 11 | Transplant Mar 4 | From Jun 2 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Mar 4 | From Apr 28 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 18 | From May 9 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 20 | Around May 20 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Portland's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Portland
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Portland around Oct 20, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 1, with harvest around May 20.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Portland:
- Peas: sow Sep 22, ready from about Nov 21
- Kale: sow Sep 22, ready from about Nov 16
- Lettuce: sow Oct 6, ready from about Nov 15
- Spinach: sow Oct 13, ready from about Nov 22
- Radishes: sow Oct 27, ready from about Nov 21
Nearby planting calendars
Portland planting questions
When is the last frost in Portland?
The average last spring frost in Portland is Feb 25, and the average first fall frost is Dec 1, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Portland?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 14, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 11, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Portland in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Portland. Sow peas and kale around Sep 22, lettuce around Oct 6, spinach around Oct 13 and radishes around Oct 27, and plant garlic around Oct 20.