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Frost dates and planting calendar for Bend, Oregon

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
6b[1]
Median last spring frost
Jun 6[2]
Median first fall frost
Sep 20[3]
Growing season, median
105 days[4]

Bend, Oregon sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b[1]. At the nearby NOAA weather station, the median last spring frost is June 6, so in half of years frost still comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after May 17, half of years Jun 6, 1 in 10 years after Jun 22Last frostmedian Jun 6First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Oct 5, half of years Sep 20, 1 in 10 years before Sep 3First frostmedian Sep 20Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant May 23 to Jun 6May 23 to Jun 6TenderTender vegetables: plant around Jun 6around Jun 6Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Jun 20from Jun 20
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[7]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates are odds from NOAA climate normals for the Bend weather station (USC00350694), near the center of Bend[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after June 6, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after June 22[2]. In the fall, the first frost comes before September 20 in half of years and before September 3 in 1 of 10 years[3]. These are chances from past records, not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later. Tender and very tender vegetables do not tolerate frost, according to CSU Extension[6].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after May 17 after June 6 after June 22
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before September 3 before September 20 before October 5
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date May 11, median first fall date October 4[8].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 81 days in 9 of 10 years, 105 days in half of years and 129 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[9].
  • Weather station: Bend (USC00350694), 1.1 miles from the city center, 3,660 feet, 23 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

The planting dates here use Colorado State University Extension's vegetable guide, which was written for Colorado[7]. Hardy crops like peas, lettuce and spinach can go in as early as May 9 to May 23, which is 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost[7]. Semi-hardy crops like beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as May 23, up to June 6[10]. Tender crops like snap beans and sweet corn go in from seed around the median last frost date, June 6[11]. Very tender crops like tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, with June 20 as the earliest start[12].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (June 6) is May 9 to May 23[7]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (June 6) is May 23, up to the median date itself[10]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, June 6[11]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (June 6), is June 20[12]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[13] May 9 Jul 13 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[13] May 9 Aug 2 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[13] May 9 Jun 28
Lettuce (hardy)[13] May 9 Jul 8
Onions (hardy)[13] May 9 Aug 27
Peas (hardy)[13] May 9 Jul 13
Radishes (hardy)[13] May 9 Jun 8
Spinach (hardy)[13] May 9 Jun 18
Turnips (hardy)[13] May 9 Jun 28
Beets (semi-hardy)[13] May 23 Jul 22
Carrots (semi-hardy)[13] May 23 Aug 1
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[13] May 23 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[13] May 23 Aug 1
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[13] May 23 Sep 25
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[13] May 23 Jul 22
Snap beans (tender)[13] Jun 6 Aug 5
Sweet corn (tender)[13] Jun 6 Aug 5
Cucumbers (tender)[13] Jun 6 Jul 31
Summer squash (tender)[13] Jun 6 Jul 26
Cantaloupe (very tender)[13] Jun 20 Sep 13
Eggplant (very tender)[13] Jun 20 Aug 19 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[13] Jun 20 Aug 29 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[13] Jun 20 Aug 24 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[13] Jun 20 Sep 28
Watermelon (very tender)[13] Jun 20 Sep 13
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[14] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[14] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[14] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[14] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[14] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[14] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[14] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[14] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[14] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[14] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[14] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[14] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[14] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[14] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[14] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[14] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[14] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[14] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[14] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[14] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[14] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 6b means the coldest winter night averages -5°F to 0°F, based on 1991 to 2020 records[1]. The zone is about winter cold only, not summer heat or frost dates[15]. USDA describes the map as the standard gardeners use to judge which perennial plants are most likely to thrive[15]. By land area, 100% of Bend lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b[16].

Zone 6b: average annual extreme minimum temperature -5°F to 0°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -2°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 6b 100%[16].

All towns in zone 6b and what zone 6b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
97702[16] 6b -5 to 0°F
97703[16] 6b -5 to 0°F
97701[16] 6b -5 to 0°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Bend, Oregon?
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Bend in zone 6b[1].
When is the last frost in Bend, Oregon?
The median last spring frost at the Bend station is June 6[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after June 22[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Bend, Oregon?
CSU Extension says very tender crops like tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[12]. For Bend, the earliest start is June 20[12].
When is the first frost in Bend, Oregon?
The median first fall frost at the Bend station is September 20[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before September 3[3].
How long is the growing season in Bend, Oregon?
In half of years the growing season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 105 days[4]. In 9 of 10 years it is at least 81 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Bend, Oregon in zone 6b. Zone 6b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -5°F to 0°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 2°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after May 17, in half of years after June 6, and in 1 of 10 years after June 22 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is June 6. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before September 3, in half of years before September 20, and in 9 of 10 years before October 5 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is September 20. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 81 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 105 days in half of years, and at least 129 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Bend weather station (USC00350694), 1.1 miles from the center of Bend at 3,660 feet, using 23 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Tender and very tender vegetables do not tolerate frost (CSU Extension). In Bend the median first fall frost is September 20. CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  8. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is May 11 and the median first fall date is October 4. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  13. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  14. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  15. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  16. Bend, Oregon overlaps 3 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.