Pacific Northwest Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for the Pacific Northwest. 143 crops with sow windows for a mild maritime climate.
This is our Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar for western Washington and Oregon, west of the Cascades. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in the Pacific Northwest, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is maritime, with mild, wet winters and cool summers, across USDA zones 6b to 9a. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by ZIP code and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. This is a first-pass calendar built from regional extension guidance and under local review, so treat it as a strong first draft.
Monthly Planting Calendar
The maritime Pacific Northwest (USDA 8b-9a west of the Cascades; the region spans 6b-9a) has mild, wet winters and cool summers. Cool-season crops thrive almost year-round, and the long, gentle shoulder seasons suit leafy greens, brassicas, peas and roots. The main limit is summer heat: tomatoes, peppers and other heat-lovers need a warm, sheltered spot or a tunnel and go out in late spring once the soil warms. Last frost is typically late March and the first fall frost around mid-November. These windows are a first-pass estimate from regional extension guidance (OSU and WSU) and are being reviewed locally.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for the Pacific Northwest
Every vegetable in our Pacific Northwest calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit and flowers.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| February | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 37 |
| March | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 50 |
| April | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 53 |
| May | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Celeriac, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Hamburg Parsley, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Leek, Lima Beans, New Zealand Spinach, Parsnip, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watermelon, Zucchini | 29 |
| June | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Leek, Lima Beans, New Zealand Spinach, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Scarlet Runner Bean, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watermelon, Zucchini | 23 |
| July | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 37 |
| August | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 36 |
| September | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Green Onion, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 38 |
| October | Garlic, Shallot | 2 |
| November | Garlic, Shallot | 2 |
| December | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
Pacific Northwest vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in the Pacific Northwest. Shaded months are open planting windows, and the last column spells them out. Where our data says a crop is set out as transplants, the window is the transplanting window.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Squash | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Okra | Not recommended | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | Not recommended | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | Mar to Apr and Sep | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Beet | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Feb to Apr and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Not recommended | ||||||||||||
| Basil | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Mar to Apr and Sep | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Mar to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | May to Jun |
Local timing notes for the Pacific Northwest
Where timing in the Pacific Northwest needs explaining, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the Planting Season app shows for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Okra (not recommended here): Summers west of the Cascades are too cool for okra to crop reliably.
- Southern Peas (not recommended here): Summers west of the Cascades are too cool for southern peas to crop reliably.
- Onion (Feb to Apr and Aug to Sep): Plant sets or transplants in early spring, or sow overwintering varieties in August or September so the plants are small going into winter and do not bolt.
- Sweet Potato (not recommended here): Summers west of the Cascades are too cool for sweet potatoes to crop reliably.
- Strawberry (Mar to Apr): Set out dormant plants in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, so they root well before summer.
- Watermelon (May to Jun): Sow in late spring once the soil is warm. Summers here are cool, so choose short season varieties and give melons your warmest spot.
- Cantaloupe (May to Jun): Sow in late spring once the soil is warm. Summers here are cool, so choose short season varieties and give melons your warmest spot.
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Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in the Pacific Northwest
The climate in the Pacific Northwest is maritime, with mild, wet winters and cool summers. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around March 25 and the first fall frost around November 15, which leaves a growing season of about 235 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Frost is local, so here is what the ZIP code records show for a few places across western Washington and Oregon, west of the Cascades:
- Seattle (98101): typical last spring frost March 13; typical first fall frost November 17; a growing season of about 247 days.
- Portland (97204): typical last spring frost February 25; typical first fall frost December 1; a growing season of about 280 days.
- Olympia (98501): typical last spring frost April 29; typical first fall frost October 14; a growing season of about 169 days.
- Eugene (97401): typical last spring frost April 11; typical first fall frost October 23; a growing season of about 196 days.
Enter your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, at the 50 percent probability level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later.
USDA hardiness zones: our Pacific Northwest region spans zones 6b to 9a. Your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and fruit trees survive a normal winter; it does not tell you when to sow, which is why this calendar follows frost dates and summer heat instead. Zone pages: zone 6b, zone 7a, zone 7b, zone 8a, zone 8b, zone 9a.
Pacific Northwest planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Pacific Northwest planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in the Pacific Northwest (March to May)
74 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in spring. Planting windows that open: in March, Swiss Chard, Asparagus, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Leek, Parsnip, Rhubarb and 3 more; in April, Celeriac, Celery and Quinoa; in May, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 11 more. Last chance before the season ends: April for Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and 35 more. You can keep sowing Hamburg Parsley, Leek, Parsnip, Salsify and Scorzonera through every month of it.
Summer in the Pacific Northwest (June to August)
59 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in summer. Planting windows that open: in June, Rutabaga; in July, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 25 more; in August, Onion. Last chance before the season ends: June for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 11 more; July for Leek and Rutabaga.
Fall in the Pacific Northwest (September to November)
40 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in fall. Planting windows that open: in September, Swiss Chard and Green Onion; in October, Garlic and Shallot. Last chance before the season ends: September for Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and 28 more. Fall is also garlic planting time here; see how to grow garlic.
Winter in the Pacific Northwest (December to February)
37 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in winter. Planting windows that open: in February, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 27 more.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
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Open the App →Planting calendars for other US regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own planting windows, frost dates and month pages. For every region side by side, see what vegetables to plant now across the US, or find your region by ZIP code.
- North Florida vegetable planting calendar
North Florida: USDA zones 9a to 9b, frost window February 15 to December 5. - Central Florida vegetable planting calendar
Central Florida: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - South Florida vegetable planting calendar
South Florida: USDA zones 10a to 11a, effectively frost free. - Gulf South vegetable planting calendar
Gulf South: USDA zones 8a to 9b, frost window February 25 to December 1. - Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar
Desert Southwest: USDA zones 7a to 10a, frost window February 5 to December 5. - Texas vegetable planting calendar
Texas: USDA zones 8a to 10a, frost window March 1 to November 28. - Southern California vegetable planting calendar
Southern California: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - Mid-South vegetable planting calendar
Mid-South: USDA zones 7a to 8b, frost window April 10 to October 25. - Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 10 to October 15. - Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic: USDA zones 6b to 8a, frost window April 15 to October 25. - Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar
Midwest & Great Lakes: USDA zones 5a to 7a, frost window April 30 to October 15. - Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains: USDA zones 3b to 5a, frost window May 15 to September 25. - Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Mountain West: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 5 to September 30. - Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains: USDA zones 5b to 7b, frost window April 10 to October 30. - Northern California vegetable planting calendar
Northern California & Central Valley: USDA zones 7b to 10a, frost window February 28 to November 17. - Hawaii vegetable planting calendar
Hawaii: USDA zones 11b to 12b, effectively frost free. - Alaska vegetable planting calendar
Alaska: USDA zones 1b to 7b, frost window May 15 to September 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the planting season in the Pacific Northwest?
Cool-season crops can go in across the long spring and fall shoulders, roughly March to April and August to September, and many overwinter in the mild lowland winter. Frost-tender crops wait until late spring (May to June) once the soil warms.
Why do tomatoes struggle in the Pacific Northwest?
Summers west of the Cascades are cool, so heat-lovers like tomatoes, peppers and melons ripen slowly. Choose short-season varieties, give them the warmest, most sheltered spot, and consider a cloche or tunnel.
How accurate are these dates?
They are a careful first pass based on regional extension calendars (OSU and WSU). We are reviewing them with local sources before this region is finalized.
What vegetables can I plant now in the Pacific Northwest?
It depends on the month. Going by our Pacific Northwest calendar, in spring (Mar to May) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale and Collard Greens; in summer (Jun to Aug) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli; in fall (Sep to Nov) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Garlic and Shallot; in winter (Dec to Feb) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli. The What to plant in the Pacific Northwest now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in the Pacific Northwest?
Across the Pacific Northwest the average last spring frost is around March 25 and the first fall frost around November 15, a growing season of about 235 days. ZIP code records for Seattle (98101) give a typical last spring frost of March 13 and a first fall frost of November 17. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest?
Our Pacific Northwest calendar has tomatoes planted in May to June. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in the Pacific Northwest?
Our Pacific Northwest calendar has garlic planted in October to November. More in how to grow garlic.