Frost dates for Elkton, OR
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 21
typical year
Safe to plant
April 14
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 12
typical year
Growing season
240 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 7 – 28 | Sep 17 – Oct 1 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 21 – Mar 14 | Sep 17 – Oct 1 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 21 – Apr 4 | Oct 1 – 15 |
| Onions | – | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 28 – Mar 21 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| Beets | – | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Sep 3 – 17 |
| Kale | Jan 10 – 24 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Sep 3 – 17 |
| Broccoli | Jan 10 – 24 | Mar 7 – 21 | Sep 3 – 17 |
| Cabbage | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Sep 3 – 17 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1 – 22 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 14 – 28 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 10 – 24 | Apr 21 – May 5 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 14 – May 5 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 14 – May 12 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 14 – May 5 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 14 – Sep 3 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 14 – May 12 | – |
| Basil | Mar 10 – 24 | Apr 21 – 28 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | April 14 | March 21 | February 17 |
| Fall frost before | October 14 | November 12 | December 14 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around February 13 (March 17 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 12.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station ELKTON 3 SW, OR US (USC00352633), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 12 miles:
97462
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.