Albany, Oregon planting calendar and frost dates
Albany is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 17 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 194 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- April 17
- Typical first frost
- October 28
- Frost-free season
- 194 days
Frost dates in Albany
Last spring frost
- March 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 17Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 19Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 194 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 1 and returns around November 17.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Corvallis State Univ, 8.5 miles W of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Albany shares this station with Corvallis, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Albany
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, zinnias
May
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, zinnias
June
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Albany
All 3 of Albany's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Corvallis State Univ, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97321 | 8b | Corvallis State Univ, 2.8 mi WSW | Apr 17 | Oct 28 |
| 97322 | 8b | Corvallis State Univ, 8.5 mi W | Apr 17 | Oct 28 |
| 97389 | 8b | Corvallis State Univ, 8.6 mi NW | Apr 17 | Oct 28 |
Corvallis State Univ also supplies the frost dates for Corvallis, so their planting calendars match Albany's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Albany
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 15 to 29 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 29 to Sep 2 |
| Cilantro | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Basil | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jun 10 to 17 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| Onions | Dec 26 to Feb 6 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 13 to 27 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 13 to 27 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 25 to Apr 22 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | Aug 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jul 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | May 6 to 20 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Zucchini | May 13 to 27 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 30 to Feb 20 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Mar 6 to 13 | Apr 10 to 24 | Aug 19 to Sep 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 17 to May 8 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 16 to Nov 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 16 to Oct 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Corvallis, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 17
- Salem, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 3
- Eugene, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 11
- Springfield, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 11
- Tigard, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
- Beaverton, OR zone 9a, last frost Apr 1
Planting in OregonAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Albany
Questions
When is the last frost in Albany?
Around April 17 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Corvallis State Univ. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 8.
What planting zone is Albany in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Albany?
Start seeds indoors April 15 to 29 and set plants out June 10 to 24.
When is the first frost in Albany?
Around October 28 in a typical year, and before October 5 about 1 year in 10.