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Last and first frost dates in Salem

United States

In Salem the last spring frost usually comes around 27 March and the first autumn frost around 17 November, which leaves about 235 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 14 May to 28 July.

Last spring frostaround 27 March
First autumn frostaround 17 November
Frost-free days235 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Salem?

The last frost in Salem usually comes around 27 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 6 March, while corn waits until 26 April. The first autumn frost follows around 17 November, about 235 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha1 February – 9 August13 March – 18 September3 April – 18 September
Ageratumfrom 26 February—from 14 May
Arugula——sow 6 March – 13 October
Basil8 April – 15 September16 May – 23 October6 June – 23 October
Beet——sow 6 March – 18 September
Bell Pepper17 March – 29 May16 May – 28 July6 June – 28 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 10 January—from 3 April
Bok Choy6 February – 26 September13 March – 31 October3 April – 31 October
Borage——sow 3 April – 23 September
Broad bean——sow 6 March – 9 August
Broccoli——sow 6 March – 2 August
Brussels Sprouts30 December – 30 June13 February – 14 August6 March – 14 August
Busy Lizziefrom 9 January—from 3 April
Cabbage——sow 6 March – 10 July
Calendula——sow from 6 March
Carrot——sow 6 March – 25 August
Cauliflower2 January – 2 August13 February – 13 September6 March – 13 September
Celeriac26 December – 30 May13 March – 15 August3 April – 15 August
Celery26 December – 9 June13 March – 25 August3 April – 25 August
Celosiafrom 12 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Chamomile——sow 6 March – 13 September
Chayote7 January – 23 May5 April – 19 August26 April – 19 August
Chickpea——sow 6 March – 30 July
Chicory19 January – 24 August—6 March – 18 September
Chili Pepper17 March – 5 July16 May – 3 September6 June – 3 September
China asterfrom 25 Marchfrom 16 Mayfrom 6 June
Chives——sow 6 March – 4 September
Cilantro——sow 6 March – 14 September
Corn——sow 26 April – 30 July
Corn poppy——sow from 6 March
Cosmosfrom 12 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Cucumber18 April – 5 August16 May – 2 September6 June – 2 September
Daikon——sow 6 March – 11 September
Delphiniumfrom 16 December—from 6 March
Dill——sow 6 March – 24 September
Edging lobeliafrom 9 January—from 3 April
Eggplant17 March – 29 May16 May – 28 July6 June – 28 July
Florence fennel27 January – 9 August13 March – 23 September3 April – 23 September
Foxglovefrom 28 November—from 6 March
Garden sorrel——sow 6 March – 12 September
Green Beans——sow 17 May – 7 August
Hollyhock——sow from 6 March
Hyssop——sow 6 March – 5 August
Kale——sow 6 March – 6 September
Kiwano22 March – 12 August23 April – 13 September14 May – 13 September
Kohlrabi——sow 6 March – 16 September
Leek5 December – 21 May13 February – 30 July6 March – 30 July
Lemon balm——sow 6 March – 8 September
Lettuce——sow 6 March – 21 September
Lisianthusfrom 18 Novemberfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Lovage——sow from 6 March
Luffa4 April – 6 June16 May – 18 July6 June – 18 July
Marigoldfrom 30 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Marjoram17 March – 24 August—6 June – 23 October
Melon18 April – 23 July16 May – 20 August6 June – 20 August
Microgreens——sow 17 May – 3 November
Moringa2 April – 29 August27 May – 23 October17 June – 23 October
Moss rosefrom 16 January—from 3 April
Mustard greens——sow 6 March – 3 October
Napa cabbage8 February – 3 September13 March – 6 October3 April – 6 October
Nasturtiumfrom 3 Februaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Okra4 April – 17 August16 May – 28 September6 June – 28 September
Oregano15 December – 14 August13 February – 13 October6 March – 13 October
Pansyfrom 19 Decemberfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Parsley——sow 6 March – 2 September
Parsnip——sow 6 March – 22 July
Peanut9 April – 13 July16 May – 19 August6 June – 19 August
Peas——sow 6 March – 4 September
Petuniafrom 14 Marchfrom 16 Mayfrom 6 June
Physalis9 March – 10 July23 April – 24 August14 May – 24 August
Pumpkin4 April – 11 June16 May – 23 July6 June – 23 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 13 December—from 6 March
Radish——sow 6 March – 18 October
Sage26 December – 10 August13 February – 28 September6 March – 28 September
Scarlet sagefrom 2 March—from 14 May
Snapdragonfrom 10 Decemberfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Soybean——sow 6 June – 29 August
Spinach——sow 6 March – 23 September
Stevia5 March – 1 July23 April – 19 August14 May – 19 August
Stock——sow from 6 March
Sunflower——sow from 17 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 6 March
Sweet Corn22 March – 24 August13 April – 15 September4 May – 15 September
Sweet peafrom 2 Januaryfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 March
Sweet William——sow from 6 March
Swiss Chard——sow 6 March – 18 September
Thyme——sow 6 March – 30 July
Tomato2 March – 6 June23 April – 28 July14 May – 28 July
Turnip——sow 6 March – 20 September
Watercress——sow 6 March – 1 October
Watermelon18 April – 11 July16 May – 8 August6 June – 8 August
Zinniafrom 22 Aprilfrom 27 Mayfrom 17 June
Zucchini25 April – 10 August16 May – 31 August6 June – 31 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Salem

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 7 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 48 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C8 January78 days earlier
10 °C3 April7 days later
15 °C14 May48 days later
18 °C6 June71 days later

Frost dates near Salem

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Tacoma (15 March) and latest in Eugene (15 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Portland70 km26 March22 November
Eugene98 km15 April29 October
Olympia234 km19 March15 November
Tacoma261 km15 March3 December
Yakima269 km13 April24 October

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Salem

Within 15 km of Salem OpenStreetMap lists 12 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 3 plant nurseries, 2 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Olson's Premium Houseplants, 0 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Salem

Frosts in Salem usually come from about 17 November to about 27 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Salem by month

Average weather in Salem over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (21–30.9 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (30.3 °C) and August (30.9 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 1.9 °C. About 1169 mm of rain falls in a year, on 139 days; December is the wettest month (189 mm) and July the driest (6 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January9217819
February101.913215
March12.83.112818
April16.45.410014
May218.46710
June25.311.4427
July30.314.261
August30.914.892
September25.912.2477
October18.1810911
November124.816216
December8.72.418919

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 18 October
Crocus18 October – end of December
Daffodil18 October – end of December
Garlic18 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 18 October
Helleboreby 18 October
Hyacinth18 October – end of December
Lilyby 18 October
Ornamental onionby 18 October
Peonyby 18 October
Saffronby 18 October
Snowdropby 18 October
Tulip18 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 18 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).