Gresham, Oregon planting calendar and frost dates
Gresham is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 13 and the first fall frost around November 19, giving about 247 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 13
- Typical first frost
- November 19
- Frost-free season
- 247 days
Frost dates in Gresham
Last spring frost
- February 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 13Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 247 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 February 16 and returns around December 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Portland International Airport, 4.4 miles SE of the city center and 172 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Gresham shares this station with Portland, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Gresham
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, ginger, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, potatoes, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: potatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Gresham
All 4 of Gresham's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Portland International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8b in 97080, and 9a in 97030, 97230, 97233.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97030 | 9a | Portland International Airport, 4.4 mi SE | Mar 13 | Nov 19 |
| 97080 | 8b | Portland International Airport, 4.4 mi SE | Mar 13 | Nov 19 |
| 97230 | 9a | Portland International Airport, 5.9 mi NE | Mar 13 | Nov 19 |
| 97233 | 9a | Portland International Airport, 5.9 mi NE | Mar 13 | Nov 19 |
Portland International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Portland, Vancouver and Tigard, so their planting calendars match Gresham's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Gresham
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 16 to 30 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Cilantro | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 20 | — |
| Basil | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | Jul 30 to Aug 6 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Nov 19 to Dec 3 |
| Onions | Nov 21 to Jan 2 | Feb 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 3 to 31 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Carrots | — | Feb 20 to Mar 13 | Aug 27 to Sep 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 14 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Green Beans | — | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Broccoli | Dec 26 to Jan 16 | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Peas | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Spinach | Jan 30 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 10 to Oct 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 15 to 22 | Jul 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 8 to Dec 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 8 to Nov 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Oct 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Portland, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
- Vancouver, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Tigard, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
- Beaverton, OR zone 9a, last frost Apr 1
- Hillsboro, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 16
- Salem, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 3
Planting in OregonAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Gresham
Questions
When is the last frost in Gresham?
Around March 13 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Portland International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 1.
What planting zone is Gresham in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Gresham?
Start seeds indoors March 24 to April 7 and set plants out May 19 to June 2.
When is the first frost in Gresham?
Around November 19 in a typical year, and before October 29 about 1 year in 10.