Middletown, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Middletown is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 178 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 19
- Frost-free season
- 178 days
Frost dates in Middletown
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 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 178 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 October 29.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Franklin, 6.9 miles NE 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 Middletown
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: 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, 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
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, 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 Middletown
All 3 of Middletown's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Franklin, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Middletown
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 14 to 28 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 9 to 16 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 11 to 25 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 11 to 25 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 21 to Mar 21 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 27 to Aug 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 4 to 18 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 11 to 25 | May 9 to 23 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 7 to Nov 2 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 7 to Oct 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 7 to 21 |
Nearby cities
- Hamilton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Kettering, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Dayton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Cincinnati, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Springfield, OH zone 6a, last frost Apr 25
- Muncie, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Middletown
Questions
When is the last frost in Middletown?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Franklin. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Middletown 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 Middletown?
Start seeds indoors March 14 to 28 and set plants out May 9 to 23; the safest date to plant out is after May 11.
When is the first frost in Middletown?
Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 7 about 1 year in 10.