Cleveland, OH Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Cleveland garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Apr 8
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 12
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
218 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
6b
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 29 Apr 8 Apr 20
First fall frost Nov 28 Nov 12 Nov 1
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Apr 1 · first Nov 22

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Cleveland Burke Airport station (2 km from central Cleveland). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Cleveland

Computed from Cleveland's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-6 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 11 – Feb 25 Apr 15 – Apr 22
🫑 Peppers Jan 28 – Feb 11 Apr 22 – Apr 29
🥬 Lettuce Feb 25 – Mar 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25 Mar 11 – Apr 8
🫛 Peas Feb 25 – Mar 11
🥕 Carrots Mar 18 – Apr 8
🥦 Broccoli Feb 18 – Mar 4 Mar 18 – Apr 1
🥬 Kale Feb 25 – Mar 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25 Mar 11 – Mar 25
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 11 – Mar 18 Apr 15 – Apr 22 Apr 15 – Apr 22
🥒 Zucchini Mar 11 – Mar 18 Apr 15 – Apr 22 Apr 15 – Apr 22
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 15 – Apr 22
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 15 – Apr 22
🌿 Basil Feb 25 – Mar 11 Apr 15 – Apr 22 Apr 22 – Apr 29
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 1 – Oct 29

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Cleveland's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Cleveland

With roughly 218 frost-free days, Cleveland gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 12 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Cleveland, OH?

The average last spring frost in Cleveland is around Apr 8, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Cleveland, OH?

The average first fall frost in Cleveland arrives around Nov 12. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Cleveland?

About 218 frost-free days on average, from Apr 8 to Nov 12. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Cleveland in?

USDA zone 6b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.