Canton, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Canton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 26, giving about 184 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 26
- Frost-free season
- 184 days
Frost dates in Canton
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 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 11Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 26Typical: 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 184 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 Canton Rgnl Airport, 7.8 miles NW of the city center and 106 feet higher. 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 Canton
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: cosmos, okra, 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: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, 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 Canton
All 10 of Canton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Akron Canton Rgnl 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44703 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 7.8 mi NNW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44704 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 9.3 mi NNW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44705 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 7.8 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44706 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 11.3 mi N | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44707 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 11.7 mi NNW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44708 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 6.9 mi N | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44709 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 5.7 mi NNW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44710 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 8.8 mi N | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44714 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 6.8 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
| 44730 | 6b | Akron Canton Rgnl Airport, 13.6 mi NW | Apr 24 | Oct 26 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Canton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 19 to 26 | Jun 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 14 to Nov 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 14 to Oct 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Akron, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Youngstown, OH zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Parma, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Cleveland, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Elyria, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Canton
Questions
When is the last frost in Canton?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Akron Canton Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Canton 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 Canton?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Canton?
Around October 26 in a typical year, and before October 11 about 1 year in 10.