Dayton, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Dayton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 18 and the first fall frost around October 25, giving about 189 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 18
- Typical first frost
- October 25
- Frost-free season
- 189 days
Frost dates in Dayton
Last spring frost
- April 3Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 18Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 5Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 25Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 189 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 6 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dayton Mcd, 0.3 miles N 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 Dayton
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, 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, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: 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, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, 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, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
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
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Dayton
All 12 of Dayton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Dayton Mcd, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45377 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45402 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45403 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45404 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45405 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45406 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45410 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45414 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45417 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45420 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45424 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| 45426 | 6b | Dayton Mcd, 0.3 mi N | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
Dayton Mcd also supplies the frost dates for Kettering, so their planting calendars match Dayton's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Dayton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 9 to 23 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 11 to 25 | Jul 26 to Aug 30 |
| Cilantro | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 to 30 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
| Onions | Dec 27 to Feb 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 16 to Mar 16 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | Aug 2 to 23 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 9 to Sep 6 |
| Peas | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Spinach | Mar 7 to 14 | Apr 11 to 25 | Aug 16 to Sep 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 18 to May 9 | — |
| Zinnias | May 8 to 15 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 13 to Nov 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 13 to Oct 25 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Kettering, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Middletown, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Springfield, OH zone 6a, last frost Apr 25
- Hamilton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Cincinnati, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Columbus, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Dayton
Questions
When is the last frost in Dayton?
Around April 18 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Dayton Mcd. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 5.
What planting zone is Dayton 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 Dayton?
Start seeds indoors March 9 to 23 and set plants out May 4 to 18; the safest date to plant out is after May 5.
When is the first frost in Dayton?
Around October 25 in a typical year, and before October 13 about 1 year in 10.