Salem, Oregon planting calendar and frost dates
Salem is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 212 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- April 3
- Typical first frost
- November 1
- Frost-free season
- 212 days
Frost dates in Salem
Last spring frost
- March 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 23Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 212 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 2 and returns around November 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 miles SSE 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 Salem
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus
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
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, 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
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, 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: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, potatoes, sweet corn
August
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Salem
All 6 of Salem's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Salem Mcnary Fld, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97301 | 8b | Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 97302 | 8b | Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 97304 | 8b | Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 97305 | 8b | Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 97306 | 8b | Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| 97317 | 8b | Salem Mcnary Fld, 3.1 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Salem
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 5 to 19 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Cilantro | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Apr 12 to 26 | May 31 to Jun 7 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 9 to 16 | Jul 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Nov 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Dec 12 to Jan 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 3 to 17 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 3 to 17 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 15 to Apr 12 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | Aug 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 27 to Jul 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Green Beans | — | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Zucchini | May 3 to 17 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Feb 20 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 9 to 30 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 20 to 27 | Jul 18 to Aug 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
Nearby cities
- Albany, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 17
- Corvallis, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 17
- Tigard, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
- Beaverton, OR zone 9a, last frost Apr 1
- Hillsboro, OR zone 8b, last frost Apr 16
- Portland, OR zone 9a, last frost Mar 13
Planting in OregonAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Salem
Questions
When is the last frost in Salem?
Around April 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Salem Mcnary Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 27.
What planting zone is Salem 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 Salem?
Start seeds indoors April 5 to 19 and set plants out May 31 to June 14.
When is the first frost in Salem?
Around November 1 in a typical year, and before October 16 about 1 year in 10.