GardenFacts

All states › Oregon › McMinnville

Frost dates and planting calendar for McMinnville, Oregon

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

USDA hardiness zone
8b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 5[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 7[3]
Growing season, median
216 days[4]

McMinnville, Oregon is in USDA hardiness zone 8b[1]. The median last spring frost is April 5, which means frost comes after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 5, half of years Apr 5, 1 in 10 years after Apr 27Last frostmedian Apr 5First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 1, half of years Nov 7, 1 in 10 years before Oct 20First frostmedian Nov 7Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 8 to Mar 22Mar 8 to Mar 22Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 5around Apr 5Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 19from Apr 19
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)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates are odds from 1991 to 2020 records, not a forecast. They come from the NOAA weather station called Mc Minnville[5]. The last spring frost comes after March 5 in 9 of 10 years, after April 5 in half of years and after April 27 in 1 of 10 years[2]. The first fall frost comes before October 20 in 1 of 10 years, before November 7 in half of years and before December 1 in 9 of 10 years[3]. Any single year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 5 after April 5 after April 27
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 20 before November 7 before December 1
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 20, median first fall date November 28[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 186 days in 9 of 10 years, 216 days in half of years and 255 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 99.3% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Mc Minnville (USC00355384), 1.6 miles from the city center, 155 feet, 15 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are simple arithmetic and not local advice[6]. We used the NOAA median last frost, April 5, as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before it, which is March 8 to March 22[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, which is March 22[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can start from seed around April 5[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically start 2 or more weeks after it, so the earliest start is April 19[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 5) is March 8 to March 22[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 5) is March 22, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 5[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 5), is April 19[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 8 May 12 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 8 Jun 1 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 8 Apr 27
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 8 May 7
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 8 Jun 26
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 8 May 12
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 8 Apr 7
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 8 Apr 17
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 8 Apr 27
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 21
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 31
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 22 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 31
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 22 Jul 25
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 22 May 21
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 5 Jun 4
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 5 Jun 4
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 5 May 30
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 5 May 25
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 19 Jul 13
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 18 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 28 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 19 Jun 23 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 19 Jul 28
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 19 Jul 13
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The USDA zone is based on the average coldest night of each winter from 1991 to 2020[14]. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum of 15°F to 20°F[1]. It does not describe summer heat or frost dates[14]. McMinnville overlaps 1 ZIP code area, and all of the city's land area is rated zone 8b[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 19.9°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8b and what zone 8b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
97128[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is McMinnville, Oregon?
The center of McMinnville is in USDA zone 8b on the 2023 map[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b[15].
When is the last frost in McMinnville?
The median last spring frost is April 5, so frost comes after that date in half of years[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 27[2].
When is the first frost in McMinnville?
The median first fall frost is November 7[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 20[3].
When to plant tomatoes in McMinnville?
CSU Extension typically starts tomatoes 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost of April 5, the earliest start is April 19[11].
How long is the growing season in McMinnville?
The growing season is at least 216 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 186 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of McMinnville, Oregon in zone 8b. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 19.9°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 March 5, in half of years after April 5, and in 1 of 10 years after April 27 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 5. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 20, in half of years before November 7, and in 9 of 10 years before December 1 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 7. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 186 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 216 days in half of years, and at least 255 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Mc Minnville weather station (USC00355384), 1.6 miles from the center of McMinnville at 155 feet, using 15 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. 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
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is February 20 and the median first fall date is November 28. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 99.3% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. 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
  15. McMinnville, Oregon overlaps 1 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b. 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.