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Seed Starting Calendar for Ohio

Median last frost from Apr 16 to May 2 across Ohio

NOAA stations
127
Median last frost, Columbus
Apr 18
Passed in 9 of 10 years
May 5
Last frost

Last spring frost dates in Ohio

Cleveland on Lake Erie reaches its median last frost around Apr 8, Cincinnati and Columbus in mid April, and Defiance and Youngstown around the start of May.

Three dates per station from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals. The median is the date half of springs run past. The last column is the date the last 32°F night has passed by in 9 years out of 10, the one to hold tender transplants for.

StationElevationEarly (1 in 10 years later than this)Median last frostPassed in 9 of 10 yearsMedian first fall frost
ClevelandCleveland Burke Airport, USW00004853584 ftMar 29Apr 8Apr 20Nov 12
Cincinnati Lunken AirportCincinnati Lunken Airport, USW00093812490 ftApr 2Apr 16May 3Oct 25
ColumbusColumbus Port Columbus Intl Airport, USW00014821810 ftApr 4Apr 18May 5Oct 27
Defiance Memorial AirportDefiance Memorial Airport, USW00004851708 ftApr 13Apr 28May 14Oct 17
YoungstownYoungstown Regional Airport, USW000148521,180 ftApr 16May 1May 20Oct 17
Crop chart

When to start seeds in Ohio, spring 2027

Counted back from the median last frost at Columbus, April 18. Pick another station to redraw the chart for it.

Seed starting calendar for Columbus, Ohio, spring 2027JanFebMarAprMayOnion (from seed)Onion (from seed): start indoors Jan 10 to Jan 24Onion (from seed): harden off Mar 7 to Mar 21Onion (from seed): set out Mar 21 to Mar 28PepperPepper: start indoors Feb 21 to Mar 7Pepper: harden off Apr 18 to May 2Pepper: set out May 2 to May 9EggplantEggplant: start indoors Feb 21 to Mar 7Eggplant: harden off Apr 18 to May 2Eggplant: set out May 2 to May 9TomatoTomato: start indoors Feb 28 to Mar 14Tomato: harden off Apr 11 to Apr 25Tomato: set out Apr 25 to May 2BroccoliBroccoli: start indoors Feb 7 to Feb 21Broccoli: harden off Mar 7 to Mar 21Broccoli: set out Mar 21 to Apr 4CabbageCabbage: start indoors Feb 7 to Feb 21Cabbage: harden off Mar 7 to Mar 21Cabbage: set out Mar 21 to Mar 28LettuceLettuce: start indoors Feb 14 to Feb 21Lettuce: harden off Mar 7 to Mar 21Lettuce: set out Mar 21 to Mar 28BasilBasil: start indoors Mar 7 to Mar 21Basil: harden off Apr 18 to May 2Basil: set out May 2 to May 9CucumberCucumber: start indoors Mar 28 to Apr 4Cucumber: harden off Apr 11 to Apr 25Cucumber: set out Apr 25 to May 2Cucumber: sow outdoors Apr 18 to Apr 25Summer squashSummer squash: start indoors Apr 4 to Apr 11Summer squash: harden off Apr 18 to May 2Summer squash: set out May 2 to May 9Summer squash: sow outdoors Apr 18 to Apr 25PeasPeas: sow outdoors Mar 21 to Apr 4CarrotCarrot: sow outdoors Apr 4 to Apr 18BeansBeans: sow outdoors Apr 18 to Apr 25Sweet cornSweet corn: sow outdoors Apr 18 to Apr 25Median last frost Apr 189 in 10 years May 5
Start indoorsHarden offSet outSow outdoorsMedian last frostLast freeze passed in 9 of 10 years
Every crop, counted from a median last frost of April 18
CropStart indoorsSet outSow outdoorsFrost class
TomatoFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 25 to May 2Tender, very tender
PepperFeb 21 to Mar 7May 2 to May 9Tender, very tender
EggplantFeb 21 to Mar 7May 2 to May 9Tender, very tender
BasilMar 7 to Mar 21May 2 to May 9Tender
CeleryJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to Apr 25Tender
CucumberMar 28 to Apr 4Apr 25 to May 2Apr 18 to Apr 25Tender
Summer squashApr 4 to Apr 11May 2 to May 9Apr 18 to Apr 25Tender
Winter squashApr 4 to Apr 11May 2 to May 9May 2 to May 9Tender, very tender
PumpkinApr 4 to Apr 11May 2 to May 9May 2 to May 9Tender, very tender
Melon (cantaloupe)Apr 4 to Apr 11May 2 to May 9Tender, very tender
WatermelonMar 28 to Apr 11May 2 to May 9Tender, very tender
Onion (from seed)Jan 10 to Jan 24Mar 21 to Mar 28Hardy
LeekJan 10 to Jan 24Mar 21 to Mar 28Hardy
ParsleyJan 17 to Jan 24Mar 28 to Apr 4Half-hardy
BroccoliFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Hardy
Brussels sproutsFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Apr 4Hardy
CabbageFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Mar 28Hardy
CauliflowerFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 4 to Apr 11Half-hardy
KaleFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Mar 28Hardy
LettuceFeb 14 to Feb 21Mar 21 to Mar 28Hardy
Swiss chardFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 4 to Apr 11Mar 21 to Mar 28Half-hardy
SpinachJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 7 to Mar 28Mar 21 to Apr 4Hardy
PeasMar 21 to Apr 4Hardy
RadishMar 21 to Apr 4Hardy
CarrotApr 4 to Apr 18Half-hardy
BeetApr 4 to Apr 18Half-hardy
BeansApr 18 to Apr 25Tender
Sweet cornApr 18 to Apr 25Tender
Six square pots of dark compost seen from above, each holding a single seedling with two narrow seed leaves
Tomato seedlings at the seed leaf stage, one to a pot. The University of Minnesota Extension holds off on fertilizer until a seedling has several sets of true leaves, then feeds at quarter strength once a week. “Tomato Seedlings (49768696597)” by Amanda Slater from Coventry, West Midlands, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
Extension guide

What CFAES advises

Ohio State University Extension (CFAES) publishes the planting guide Ohio gardeners work from, Growing Cabbage in the Home Garden (HYG-1611).

“Direct seeding of cabbage is difficult, so seeds should be sown indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to the frost-free date for your area.”
Ohio State University Extension (CFAES), Growing Cabbage in the Home Garden, quoted exactly.
“Direct seeding of cabbage is difficult, so seeds should be sown indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to the frost-free date for your area.”
Ohio State University Extension (CFAES), on cabbage, quoted exactly.
“Starting seeds indoors is an option for Ohio gardeners and can be done eight to ten weeks before expected planting date.”
Ohio State University Extension (CFAES), on pepper, quoted exactly.
“In central Ohio, the last spring frost date is around May 20, and tomatoes may be planted anytime after this.”
Ohio State University Extension (CFAES), on tomato, quoted exactly.
“Four to six weeks after germination, transplant to raised garden beds or field plots.”
Ohio State University Extension (CFAES), on broccoli, quoted exactly.
A gardener kneeling beside a raised bed setting a young tomato plant into dark soil, an empty nursery pot beside her
Setting out a tomato in June at a community garden. Tender crops go out after the last frost, and after a week or two of hardening off outdoors. “Volunteer planting heirloom tomato (4704185147)”, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain

Seed starting questions for Ohio

Frost dates from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal, by station (v1.0.1). Planting guidance from Ohio State University Extension (CFAES), quoted exactly. Seed starting weeks from UNH Cooperative Extension. Compiled 2026-09-21.

First frost in OhioThe other end of the season: when fall frost ends the tender crops.Soil temperatureBeans, corn and squash sown direct wait on warm soil as well as the last frost.Ohio lawn care calendarSpring seeding, feeding and mowing dates on the same climate.Fall planting calendarGarlic, cool season crops and a second sowing window in the fall.Frost dates by ZIPFirst and last frost odds for any address.

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