What to plant this week in Bend, OR
Bend gardeners are now in the final sprint before our last frost on April 21, with temperatures dropping to -5°F at night requiring immediate attention for cold-tender crops. This week is critical for harvesting summer staples like basil and bush beans while simultaneously preparing hardy root vegetables such as parsnips and garlic for storage or final pulling.
The next 7 days
Bend, ORGrowing in Bend right now
- Our high desert soil drains quickly in our clay-loam mix, so water deeply but infrequently this week to avoid leaching nutrients from crops like sweet potatoes and cucumbers.
- Be mindful of our unique microclimates around the Deschutes River; riparian zones may warm up faster than the surrounding basalt slopes, creating pockets for early zinnia blooms while higher elevations stay cooler.
- With spring rains tapering off, protect young transplants from our characteristic April wind events that can scorch delicate leaves of fennel and edamame.
- Monitor soil moisture carefully as we approach the dry season; mulch heavily around pumpkins and winter squash to conserve water before the summer heat sets in.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
45 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Keep a close eye on pollinator-friendly flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia to ensure good seed set.
- Harvest bush beans and cucumbers frequently to encourage continued production throughout summer.
- Protect young transplants from late spring chill with row covers if an unexpected cold snap occurs.
- Plan succession sowing for cool-season crops now so they are ready as the weather cools in October.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid colonies are forming on new growth of basil, nasturtium, and zinnias due to the mild spring warmth.
- Early signs of powdery mildew may appear on leafy greens like celery if humidity spikes during our cool nights followed by sunny afternoons.
- Watch for cutworms attacking pole bean seedlings in the evening hours as soil temperatures stabilize above 50°F.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Save seeds from your best-performing varieties like French Marigold and Zinnia to start your next season's garden early.
Bend gardening questions
3Is it safe to plant out my basil and bush beans now?
You can safely transplant these warm-weather crops, but only if you ensure they are not exposed to temps below -5°F overnight. Place them in sheltered spots away from the cold river winds until night temperatures consistently rise above freezing.
When should I start harvesting my garlic crop?
Wait for your garlic leaves to yellow and fall over naturally, which typically happens a few weeks after our average last frost date of April 21. Pulling too early will result in smaller bulbs that won't store well through Bend's winter.
How do I handle the rapid drainage of high desert soil for watermelons?
Plant your watermelon seeds directly into raised beds or mounds to improve aeration, as flat ground can become waterlogged during rare spring downpours. Apply a thick layer of straw mulch around the vines to retain moisture and keep fruit off damp earth.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Bend garden in SproutGuide →