Frost dates for 97812Arlington, OR
The average last spring frost in Arlington is April 6 and the average first fall frost is October 21, giving a typical growing season of about 196 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 6
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 21
- Growing season
- 196 days
Safer after Apr 28 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Oct 6 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 156 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Apr 9 · Apr 27 · May 10 | Sep 29 · Oct 11 · Oct 25 | 168 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Mar 22 · Apr 6 · Apr 28 | Oct 6 · Oct 21 · Nov 7 | 196 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Mar 1 · Mar 19 · Apr 8 | Oct 18 · Nov 3 · Nov 22 | 230 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Arlington
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Mar 6 – May 12 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | Apr 22 – Jul 1 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 6 – Apr 6 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 6 – Jun 6 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Mar 23 – Apr 21 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 6 – Jun 6 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 6 – Jul 11 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 22 – Jun 6 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 6 – Jun 6 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 22 – Aug 3 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Apr 22 – Jul 1 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 6 – Jun 6 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 – May 22 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 6 – Apr 21 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 6 – May 6 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Jan 23 – Feb 19 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 23 – Apr 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 16 – Mar 22 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 23 – Apr 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 21 – Jul 1 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 21 – Aug 1 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 6 – Mar 6 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 6 – Apr 6 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 11 – Jul 11 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 11 – Aug 11 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 6 – May 22 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 11 – Aug 27 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Feb 27 – Apr 12 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 28 – Sep 1 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 6 – Apr 26 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 11 – Sep 11 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 23 – Apr 12 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 4 – Aug 11 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 6 – May 22 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 11 – Jul 27 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Oct 11 – Nov 11 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 97812 is matched to the NOAA station Arlington, OR, 6.1 km away, at 277 ft elevation (753 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, OR (used) | 277 ft | Apr 6 | Oct 21 |
| Bickleton, WA | 3,015 ft | May 16 | Oct 9 |
| Boardman, OR | 280 ft | Apr 14 | Oct 21 |
| Moro, OR | 1,870 ft | May 12 | Oct 4 |
Frost dates near Arlington
- Roosevelt, WA 99356 · last Jun 2, first Oct 1
- Mikkalo, OR 97861 · last May 12, first Oct 4
- Bickleton, WA 99322 · last May 16, first Oct 9
- Ione, OR 97843 · last Apr 26, first Oct 19
- Boardman, OR 97818 · last Apr 14, first Oct 21
- Rufus, OR 97050 · last Apr 11, first Oct 26
- Wasco, OR 97065 · last May 12, first Oct 4
- Moro, OR 97039 · last May 12, first Oct 4
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Arlington, OR?
- For ZIP code 97812, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 6, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Arlington, OR weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after April 28.
- When is the first frost in Arlington, OR?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 21. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by October 6, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 97812?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 196 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.