Akron, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Akron is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 186 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 28
- Frost-free season
- 186 days
Frost dates in Akron
Last spring frost
- April 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 186 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 13 and returns around November 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 miles SE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Akron
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Akron
All 12 of Akron's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Akron Fulton International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44301 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44303 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44305 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44306 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44307 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44310 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44311 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44312 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44313 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44314 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44319 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
| 44320 | 6b | Akron Fulton International Airport, 4.2 mi SE | Apr 24 | Oct 28 |
Akron Fulton International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Cuyahoga Falls, so their planting calendars match Akron's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Akron
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 to 30 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 29 to Sep 2 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 23 to Mar 23 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 6 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 19 to Sep 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 17 to 24 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 16 to Nov 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 16 to Oct 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Canton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Parma, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Cleveland, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Elyria, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Lorain, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Akron
Questions
When is the last frost in Akron?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Akron Fulton International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 9.
What planting zone is Akron in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Akron?
Start seeds indoors March 16 to 30 and set plants out May 11 to 25.
When is the first frost in Akron?
Around October 28 in a typical year, and before October 12 about 1 year in 10.