Frost dates for ZIP 97018 (Columbia City, 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, Saint Helens Rfd, OR (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)201 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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 97018 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 7: 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) | Mar 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 26 |
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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 6 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 18 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 24 |
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 97018
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Nov 7). 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 | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 28–Apr 18 (transplant) Mar 21–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 18 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–25 (transplant) Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 14–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 21–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 21–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 21–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 21–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 21–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 25–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 7–21 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (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: Saint Helens Rfd, OR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00357466), elevation 269 ft, 4.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scappoose Ind AP, OR | 9 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 2 |
| Battle Ground, WA | 16 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 16 |
| Vancouver 4 NNE, WA | 17 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 97018
When is the last frost in 97018?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 97018 is April 18. For a more cautious planting date, use May 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 97018?
The average first fall freeze is November 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 21.
What hardiness zone is 97018?
ZIP 97018 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 97018 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
97051 St. Helens 97053 Warren 97054 Deer Island 98674 Woodland 98642 Ridgefield 98629 La Center 97056 Scappoose 97048 Rainier
Other ZIP codes in Columbia County
97016 97048 97051 97053 97054 97056 97064 All Columbia County frost dates · Oregon frost dates
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