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When to Plant Pansy in Morrow County, OR

Morrow County, Oregon Zone 7b June

June to-do list for Morrow County, Oregon

June is a pivotal month for Morrow County, Oregon gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 25
Avg. first frost October 15
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.4 hrs
  1. Bring in the pansy

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Get ahead of July
  • Starting indoors: pansy
  • First harvests: pansy

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Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) are beloved cool-season annuals offering some of the widest color range in the annual garden. Their cheerful "faces" appear in early spring — or even late winter in mild climates — and hold up remarkably well through frosts. Heat causes them to go leggy and stop blooming; replace with warm-season annuals once daytime temps exceed 70°F.

Morrow County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 2,335 feet, Morrow County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Pansy during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Morrow County, OR (Zone 7b) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 15
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Morrow County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Pansy Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🌸 Bloom: Jun 2 – Aug 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🌸 Bloom: Jun 13 – Sep 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: May 6 🌸 Bloom: Jul 1 – Sep 23

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Morrow County

How your county's soil matches Pansy's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.8) overlaps with Pansy's range (5.4–6.2), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Morrow County is excellent for Pansy — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Pansy.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.6%) — Pansy will thrive.

How to Plant Pansy

0.3"
Planting Depth
7"
Between Plants
10"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Pansy

2
successive plantings in your 173-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 06.

Pansy Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,464 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Pansy

Pansy needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Pansy Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Morrow County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Pansy Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Pansy needs ~1,280 GDD — county provides 2,768 GDD Excellent fit

Pansy Planting Timeline — Morrow County, OR

Pansy Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 14 Feb 14 – Feb 28
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 – May 2
Bloom June 13 Jun 13 – Sep 5
Fall Sowing August 6 Aug 6 – Aug 20

Plant 0.3" deep · 7" apart · Rows 10" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Fall Sowing Bloom
September Bloom
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.4–6.2 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Morrow County

Growing Tips for Pansy in Morrow County

Direct sow Pansy outdoors after April 25 in Morrow County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Morrow County receives only 21" of rain annually. Pansy needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost for spring transplants. In zones 6+, fall planting (8-10 weeks before first frost) gives overwintering plants that bloom earliest in spring. Plant in full sun in cool weather; afternoon shade helps extend bloom in zones 7-8. Deadhead to prevent premature seed set. Shear back by one-third when plants go leggy to extend the season.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pansy in Morrow County, OR?

Morrow County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Pansy planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Morrow County, OR?

Morrow County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 15.

🌱

Your Morrow County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Morrow County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Morrow County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.