What to plant this week in Bend, OR
Bend gardeners are racing against the clock with this week's harvest window for summer squash, zucchini, and watermelon closing in before our typical October 24 frost. While the air is still warm enough to pull basil and beans from the ground, you must prioritize finishing these crops immediately as nights drop toward our -5 degree minimum.
The next 7 days
Bend, ORGrowing in Bend right now
- Soil tends to be dry due to our semi-arid climate; water transplants thoroughly this week before temperatures dip below 40°F at night. The high elevation means frost can arrive earlier than the average April 21 date suggests, so protect tender crops like cosmos and nasturtium with row covers if a cold front moves in from the Cascades.
- Watch for rapid soil cooling; cover harvested beds immediately to retain residual warmth before the ground freezes solid.
- Avoid planting garlic this week as it is already listed for harvest; focus instead on cleaning your tools and prepping seed trays indoors for next spring's kale or carrots.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 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
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- 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
- Succession sow bush beans and cucumbers every two weeks for continuous harvests through August.
- Mulch heavily around young transplants and newly planted garlic to retain moisture as daytime temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of bush beans and zucchini plants once they reach 6 inches to encourage branching and heavier fruit production.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are likely active in our hot, dry Bend heat, especially on summer squash and zucchini leaves.
- Late-season aphids may appear on the new growth of pole beans and sweet corn.
- Watch for cutworms damaging the stems of your remaining okra and tomato plants near the soil line.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash frequently when they are small (6 inches) to signal the plant to keep producing fruit.
Bend gardening questions
3When exactly should I harvest my winter squash in Bend?
You can dig up pumpkins, butternut, and other hard-shelled varieties now, provided the vine has browned and died back naturally. Let them cure on the ground for two weeks or move them into a cool, dry garage to finish maturing before our first frost.
Can I still plant garlic in late September?
Since garlic is listed as ready for harvest this week, it is too late to plant new bulbs; wait until mid-October after the soil cools down further. Focus instead on harvesting your current crop and cleaning up debris to prevent disease carryover.
How do I protect my basil from Bend's sudden cold snaps?
Harvest all remaining basil now, as temperatures will drop below 40°F quickly and kill the tender leaves. You can take a few cuttings to root indoors in water or directly into your greenhouse for next year.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Bend garden in SproutGuide →