My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in Oregon

In Oregon (OR), August is the heart of the growing season - about 17 weeks after the last frost (April 20) and 9 weeks before the first (October 18). The state averages 181 frost-free days a year (last frost April 20, first frost October 18; USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9a, 9b).

35 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean, carrot, kale - and 13 of those windows close during August.

Dates here come from Oregon frost dates (last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 18). For one crop in detail, see when to plant cucumber, zucchini or bush bean in Oregon.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 35Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 25

Oregon covers a very wide range of climates, so dates near you can be two weeks or more either side of these. Enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar for dates tuned to your town.

Oregon: planting activity through the year

1
24
70
86
58
10
24
35
8
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 20 – Oct 18
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 35 have one in August; the busiest month is April (86).

Last chance in August

Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 2) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 2) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 2) · Bush Bean (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Carrot (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Kale (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Radicchio (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 9) · Collard Greens (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Endive & Escarole (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Napa Cabbage (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Parsley (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Pea (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16) · Swiss Chard (sow for a fall crop, by Aug 16)

For fall and winter harvests (32)

Sowings counted back from Oregon's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 16 – Aug 2Last chance - ends Aug 2
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 16 – Aug 2Last chance - ends Aug 2
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 16 – Aug 2Last chance - ends Aug 2
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Last chance - ends Aug 9
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
ParsleySow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
PeaSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Last chance - ends Aug 16
BeetSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropAug 6 – Aug 23Aug 6 – Aug 23
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
BorageSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
DillSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
LettuceSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
MizunaSow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropAug 13 – Aug 30Aug 13 – Aug 30
ChervilSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
SpinachSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
TatsoiSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
TurnipSow for a fall cropAug 20 – Sep 6Opens Aug 20
ArugulaSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27
WatercressSow for a fall cropAug 27 – Sep 13Opens Aug 27

Keep sowing (succession)

Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.

Harvesting in August

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Potato · Jun 15 – Aug 4Sweet Corn · Jun 26 – Aug 5Bell Pepper · Jul 3 – Aug 2Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 3 – Aug 2Brussels Sprouts · Jul 5 – Aug 4Sunflower · Jul 6 – Aug 5Lima Bean · Jul 8 – Aug 7Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 11 – Aug 5Tomatillo · Jul 11 – Aug 5Chili Pepper · Jul 13 – Aug 12Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 13 – Aug 2Watermelon · Jul 13 – Aug 12Eggplant · Jul 15 – Aug 4Leek · Jul 15 – Sep 3Winter Squash · Jul 16 – Aug 15Parsnip · Jul 22 – Aug 21Salsify · Jul 25 – Sep 3Pumpkin · Jul 26 – Aug 25Rosemary · Jul 26 – Aug 25Celery · Jul 29 – Sep 7Celeriac · Jul 29 – Aug 18Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Aug 2 – Oct 1Peanut · Aug 5 – Sep 24Sweet Potato · Aug 9 – Sep 8Zucchini / Summer Squash · Aug 30 – Oct 1

Planting dates for popular crops in Oregon

Every crop has its own full-year dates for Oregon: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.

When to plant cucumber in Oregon →When to plant zucchini in Oregon →When to plant bush bean in Oregon →When to plant carrot in Oregon →When to plant kale in Oregon →When to plant pea in Oregon →When to plant swiss chard in Oregon →When to plant beet in Oregon →Oregon frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in Oregon

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 9 weeks until the average first frost (October 18). Fall crops start now: cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often: potato, sweet corn, bell pepper, southern pea (cowpea) should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Oregon

Oregon spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9a, 9b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.

ZoneLast frostFirst frostSeason
Zone 4May 10Sep 25135 days
Zone 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days
Zone 9Feb 20Nov 30280 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Oregon in August?

35 crops have a window in August: cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash, bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio, collard greens, endive & escarole, napa cabbage and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant garlic in Oregon in August?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Oregon the next garlic window opens around October 29: plant in fall, after first frost.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Oregon in August?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Oregon have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 23.

When is the first frost in Oregon?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 18 and the last spring frost around April 20. Oregon covers a wide range of climates, so local dates can differ by two weeks or more - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Oregon in August?

From plantings made on time: potato, sweet corn, bell pepper, southern pea (cowpea), brussels sprouts, sunflower, lima bean, edamame (soybean), tomatillo, chili pepper.

← July in OregonSeptember in Oregon →Full-year Oregon planting calendar →Oregon frost dates →

What to plant in August in other states

WashingtonAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutAll states →

Dates are computed from Oregon’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.