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Hillsboro, Oregon planting calendar and frost dates

Hillsboro is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 23, giving about 191 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8b (parts in 9a)
Typical last frost
April 16
Typical first frost
October 23
Frost-free season
191 days

Frost dates in Hillsboro

Last spring frost

  • March 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 23Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 191 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 13 and returns around November 12.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Portland-Hillsboro Airport, 2.3 miles ENE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Hillsboro

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  2. February

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. May

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue

  6. June

    Start indoors: cosmos, okra

    Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass

    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

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Hillsboro

All 3 of Hillsboro's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Portland-Hillsboro Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
970068bPortland-Hillsboro Airport, 2.3 mi ENEApr 16Oct 23
971238bPortland-Hillsboro Airport, 2.3 mi ENEApr 16Oct 23
971248bPortland-Hillsboro Airport, 2.3 mi ENEApr 16Oct 23

Planting dates for popular crops in Hillsboro

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesApr 15 to 29Jun 10 to 24—
Strawberries—Mar 5 to 19—
LettuceFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to 23Jul 24 to Aug 28
CilantroMar 5 to 19Apr 16 to 23—
BasilApr 22 to May 6Jun 10 to 17—
Potatoes—Apr 17 to 24—
Garlic—Mar 5 to 19Oct 23 to Nov 6
OnionsDec 25 to Feb 5Mar 19 to Apr 2—
CucumbersMay 13 to 27Jun 10 to 24—
PumpkinsMay 13 to 27Jun 10 to 24—
PeppersMar 25 to Apr 22Jun 10 to 24—
Carrots—Mar 26 to Apr 16Jul 31 to Aug 21
Sweet Potatoes—Jul 5 to 12—
WatermelonsMay 6 to 20Jun 10 to 24—
Sweet Corn—Apr 17 to May 1—
Green Beans—Jun 10 to 24—
ZucchiniMay 13 to 27Jun 10 to 24—
BroccoliJan 29 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 7 to Sep 4
Peas—Mar 5 to 19Jul 31 to Aug 14
SpinachMar 5 to 12Apr 9 to 23Aug 14 to Sep 18
Sunflowers—Apr 17 to May 8—
ZinniasMar 19 to 26Apr 16 to 30—
Tulips——Sep 11 to Nov 6
Daffodils——Sep 11 to Oct 23
Grass Seed—Mar 5 to 19Sep 11 to 25

Nearby cities

Planting in OregonAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Hillsboro

Questions

When is the last frost in Hillsboro?

Around April 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Portland-Hillsboro Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 3.

What planting zone is Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro?

Start seeds indoors April 15 to 29 and set plants out June 10 to 24.

When is the first frost in Hillsboro?

Around October 23 in a typical year, and before October 3 about 1 year in 10.