When to plant peppers in Oregon

Plant out in Portland

Mar 11–Mar 25

Across Oregon the window opens between February 25 and June 23. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Portland: Dec 17–Dec 31
Plant out, Portland: Mar 11–Mar 25
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 19
Last frost, Portland: Feb 25

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PortlandMar 11–Mar 25

SalemApr 17–May 1

EugeneApr 25–May 9

GreshamMar 30–Apr 13

HillsboroApr 30–May 14

BendJun 20–Jul 4

BeavertonApr 15–Apr 29

MedfordApr 22–May 6

CorvallisMay 1–May 15

SpringfieldApr 25–May 9

TigardApr 15–Apr 29

AlbanyMay 1–May 15

AlohaFeb 25–Mar 11

Lake OswegoApr 1–Apr 15

Grants PassApr 22–May 6

KeizerApr 17–May 1

RedmondJun 23–Jul 7

Oregon CityApr 1–Apr 15

McMinnvilleApr 19–May 3

WoodburnMar 30–Apr 13

BethanyFeb 25–Mar 11

Happy ValleyApr 1–Apr 15

TualatinApr 15–Apr 29

WilsonvilleApr 1–Apr 15

Forest GroveApr 30–May 14

NewbergApr 4–Apr 18

West LinnApr 1–Apr 15

RoseburgApr 6–Apr 20

HayesvilleApr 17–May 1

MilwaukieMar 11–Mar 25

All 34 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Portland	Dec 17 to Dec 31	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Feb 25
Salem	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Eugene	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Gresham	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Mar 16
Hillsboro	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Bend	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Jun 20 to Jul 4	Jun 6
Beaverton	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Medford	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Corvallis	Feb 6 to Feb 20	May 1 to May 15	Apr 17
Springfield	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Tigard	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Albany	Feb 6 to Feb 20	May 1 to May 15	Apr 17
Aloha	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Feb 11
Lake Oswego	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
Grants Pass	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 8
Keizer	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Redmond	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jun 23 to Jul 7	Jun 9
Oregon City	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
McMinnville	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Apr 19 to May 3	Apr 5
Woodburn	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Mar 16
Bethany	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Feb 11
Happy Valley	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
Tualatin	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 1
Wilsonville	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
Forest Grove	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Newberg	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Mar 21
West Linn	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Mar 18
Roseburg	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Mar 23
Hayesville	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 3
Milwaukie	Dec 17 to Dec 31	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Feb 25
Klamath Falls	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jun 23 to Jul 7	Jun 9
Ashland	Feb 25 to Mar 11	May 20 to Jun 3	May 6
Sherwood	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Apr 4 to Apr 18	Mar 21
Lebanon	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Mar 28 to Apr 11	Mar 14

In Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than peppers need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Oregon?

In Portland, plant out from March 11 to March 25. Across Oregon the window opens between February 25 and June 23, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

Is the season long enough for peppers everywhere in Oregon?

Not quite. In Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than the time peppers need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Oregon

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon