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.
- 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
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, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue
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: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
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
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
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 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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Hillsboro
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 15 to 29 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 24 to Aug 28 |
| Cilantro | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jun 10 to 17 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
| Onions | Dec 25 to Feb 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| 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 26 to Apr 16 | Jul 31 to Aug 21 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jul 5 to 12 | — |
| 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 29 to Feb 19 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Jul 31 to Aug 14 |
| Spinach | Mar 5 to 12 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 14 to Sep 18 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 17 to May 8 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 11 to Nov 6 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 11 to Oct 23 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 11 to 25 |
Nearby cities
- Beaverton, OR zone 9a, last frost Apr 1
- Tigard, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
- Portland, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
- Vancouver, WA zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Gresham, OR zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- Salem, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 3
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.