Bend, OR planting zone & frost dates
Bend is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around June 6 and the first fall frost around September 20, for a growing season of about 105 days.
Planting calendar for Bend
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (June 6) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Apr 11 – Apr 25 Transplant outdoors: Jun 13 – Jun 20 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Mar 28 – Apr 11 Transplant outdoors: Jun 20 – Jun 27 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Mar 28 – Apr 11 Transplant outdoors: Jun 20 – Jun 27 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Mar 28 – Apr 11 Transplant outdoors: May 9 – May 23 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Mar 28 – Apr 11 Transplant outdoors: May 9 – May 23 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: May 9 – May 23 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: May 9 – May 23 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: May 9 – May 23 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: May 9 – May 23 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Jun 13 – Jun 20 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Jun 13 – Jun 20 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Jun 13 – Jun 20 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Jun 13 – Jun 20 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Apr 25 – May 9 Transplant outdoors: Jun 13 – Jun 20 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Jul 26 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Sep 20).
Useful for zone 6b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | May 17 | Jun 6 | Jun 22 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 5 | Sep 20 | Sep 3 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after June 22, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 3. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around May 11.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Bend
- 97701 zone 6b
- 97702 zone 6b
- 97703 zone 6b
- 97707 zone 6a
- 97708 zone 6b
- 97709 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Redmond zone 6b, last frost Jun 9
- The Dalles zone 7b, last frost Apr 14
- Sandy zone 8b, last frost Mar 27
- Lebanon zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
- Springfield zone 8b, last frost Apr 11
- Eugene zone 8b, last frost Apr 11
- Damascus zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- Gresham zone 9a, last frost Mar 16
Questions
What growing zone is Bend, OR?
Bend is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average extreme winter low -5°F to 0°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 6a.
When is the last frost in Bend?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Bend is June 6. There is still a 10% chance of frost until June 22.
When can I plant tomatoes in Bend?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Jun 13 – Jun 20. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Bend, OR (USC00350694), 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the city center, elevation 1116 m, based on 23 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.