Lorain, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Lorain is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 182 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 24
- Frost-free season
- 182 days
Frost dates in Lorain
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 182 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 11 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elyria Lorain Co Airport, 6.2 miles SSE of the city center and 175 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 Lorain
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, 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, tomatoes, 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, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, 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 Lorain
All 3 of Lorain's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Elyria Lorain Co 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44052 | 6b | Elyria Lorain Co Airport, 7.9 mi S | Apr 24 | Oct 24 |
| 44053 | 6b | Elyria Lorain Co Airport, 6.2 mi SSE | Apr 24 | Oct 24 |
| 44055 | 6b | Elyria Lorain Co Airport, 6.5 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 24 |
Elyria Lorain Co Airport also supplies the frost dates for Elyria, so their planting calendars match Lorain's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lorain
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 25 to Aug 29 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 8 to Sep 5 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 12 to Nov 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 12 to Oct 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Elyria, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Parma, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Cleveland, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Akron, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Canton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Lorain
Questions
When is the last frost in Lorain?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Elyria Lorain Co Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 10.
What planting zone is Lorain 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 Lorain?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Lorain?
Around October 24 in a typical year, and before October 8 about 1 year in 10.