Planting dates for Portland
Frost dates and sow windows from the 30-year record at Vancouver Pearson Ap, the official station 11 km from Portland, Oregon.
Sow and transplant events for the staples, straight from this page.
Key windows for Portland (2026)
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | February 15 | April 5 |
| Pepper | February 1 | April 12 |
| Peas | – | February 22 |
| Lettuce | February 1 | March 1 |
| Carrot | – | March 8 |
| Bush beans | – | April 5 |
| Garlic (longer than the average season; use short varieties) | – | Fall planted |
| Potato | – | March 15 |
Mean-date planning windows, not guarantees; watch the local forecast at the shoulders. Method on the methodology page.
Portland planting questions
When is the last frost in Portland?
Around March 29, the 30-year mean date of the last spring frost at Vancouver Pearson Ap, the official station 11 km from Portland. Half of years see frost after the mean, so tender crops usually wait a week or more past it.
When can I plant tomatoes in Portland?
Start seeds indoors around February 15 and transplant around April 5, once nights hold above 50F. The full 32-crop table on the planner computes every window for Portland.
How long is the growing season in Portland?
About 223 frost-free days on average, from roughly March 29 to November 9. Crops whose days-to-maturity exceed that window need transplants, short-season varieties, or season extension.
How this page was made
Every date above is computed from the NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals at Vancouver Pearson Ap: the 30-year mean dates of last spring and first fall frost, with crop offsets from standard horticultural practice. Full method and crop sources: data and methodology. These are planning averages, not forecasts: half of years frost later than the mean, so harden off transplants and watch the local forecast at the shoulders of the season.
More for Portland: winter tire dates. Need every crop, or a different place? The full calendar covers 32 crops at 2697 stations.