Hamilton, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Hamilton is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 186 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 22
- Frost-free season
- 186 days
Frost dates in Hamilton
Last spring frost
- April 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 9Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 22Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 3Late: 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 6 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fairfield, 5.7 miles SE of the city center and 214 feet lower. 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 Hamilton
January
Start indoors: collard greens, 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, cauliflower, 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: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, 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 Hamilton
Hamilton's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 19 in 45013 to April 22 in 45011. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Hamilton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 10 to 24 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Mar 17 to 31 | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 17 to Mar 17 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | — |
| Zinnias | May 10 to 17 | Jun 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 10 to Nov 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 10 to Oct 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Middletown, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Cincinnati, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Kettering, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Dayton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Springfield, OH zone 6a, last frost Apr 25
- Muncie, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Hamilton
Questions
When is the last frost in Hamilton?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Fairfield. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 7.
What planting zone is Hamilton 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 Hamilton?
Start seeds indoors March 10 to 24 and set plants out May 5 to 19; the safest date to plant out is after May 7.
When is the first frost in Hamilton?
Around October 22 in a typical year, and before October 9 about 1 year in 10.