Frost dates for ZIP 97222 (Milwaukie, OR)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Oregon City, OR (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)244 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 97222 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring March to April.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 11 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 15 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 18 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 12 | Dec 8 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 97222
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 18) and first fall frost (Nov 18). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 7–21 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 7–21 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 25–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–25 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 11–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 18–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 18–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 18–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 18–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 18–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 25–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 4–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Oregon City, OR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00356334), elevation 167 ft, 5.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Kgw-tv, OR | 6 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 1 |
| Portland WFO, OR | 9 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 22 |
| Beaverton 2 SSW, OR | 10 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 38 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 97222
When is the last frost in 97222?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 97222 is March 18. For a more cautious planting date, use April 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 97222?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 97222?
ZIP 97222 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 97222 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
97267 Oak Grove 97206 Portland 97202 Portland 97027 Gladstone 97034 Lake Oswego 97266 Portland 97219 Portland 97086 Happy Valley
Other ZIP codes in Clackamas County
97004 97009 97011 97013 97015 97017 97022 97023 97027 97028 97034 97035 97038 97042 97045 97049 97055 97067 97068 97070 97086 97089 97267 All Clackamas County frost dates · Oregon frost dates
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