Ohio Frost Dates

Average last spring and first fall frost for Ohio cities, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. Click a city for its full planting guide.

CityLast spring frostFirst fall frostSeasonZone
Columbus Apr 20 Oct 24 187 days 6b
Cleveland Apr 8 Nov 12 218 days 6b
Cincinnati Apr 16 Oct 25 192 days 6b

All Ohio station records (127)

Every NOAA weather station in Ohio with complete 1991–2020 frost normals — pick the one nearest you (similar elevation matters more than plain distance).

Not sure which station to trust? Use the ZIP code lookup for the quick answer, or pick the station whose terrain most resembles your garden.

Planning a Ohio garden around these dates

Count back from the last spring frost to schedule indoor seed starting (the seed starting scheduler automates it), plant hardy crops in the weeks before the date, and hold tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil — until after it. In fall, the first frost date is the deadline: crops must mature before it, which is what our planting calendar counts backwards for you. Crop-by-crop timing for every USDA zone lives under when to plant.