When to plant in Bend, OR
USDA Zone 6bBend, Oregon frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With only about 106 frost-free days, Bend has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. In zone 6b, Bend gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
BEND · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bend’s own odds, recorded at BEND.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Jun 22 | Jun 6 | May 17 | Sep 3 | Sep 20 | Oct 5 |
| 28°F | Jun 4 | May 11 | Apr 25 | Sep 18 | Oct 4 | Oct 21 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bend, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 46 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Bend planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bend, OR?
Bend's average last spring frost falls near June 6 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Bend, OR?
Expect Bend's first fall frost near September 20 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Bend in?
Bend is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Bend?
Bend has about 106 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (June 6) and first fall frost (September 20).
When should I plant tomatoes in Bend?
For Bend, sow tomatoes indoors about April 11–April 25 and move the seedlings out around June 13, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Bend
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bend’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Redmond · 25 km
- Prineville · 45 km
- Sweet Home · 118 km
- Springfield · 134 km
- Lebanon · 138 km
- Cottage Grove · 143 km
- Eugene · 145 km
- Santa Clara · 146 km
Frost dates recorded at BEND, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bend, OR — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00350694. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/oregon/bend.