Newark, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Newark is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 16, giving about 167 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 29
- Typical first frost
- October 16
- Frost-free season
- 167 days
Frost dates in Newark
Last spring frost
- April 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 16Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 167 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 19 and returns around October 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Newark Wtr Wks, 2.4 miles SW of the city center and 181 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 Newark
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
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, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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
Planting dates for popular crops in Newark
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 17 to Aug 21 |
| Cilantro | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Basil | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 16 to 30 |
| Onions | Jan 7 to Feb 18 | Apr 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 24 to Aug 14 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 11 to 25 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Peas | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| Spinach | Mar 18 to 25 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 7 to Sep 11 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 29 to May 20 | — |
| Zinnias | May 22 to 29 | Jun 19 to Jul 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 4 to Oct 30 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 4 to Oct 16 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 4 to 18 |
Nearby cities
- Columbus, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Springfield, OH zone 6a, last frost Apr 25
- Canton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Akron, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Elyria, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Newark
Questions
When is the last frost in Newark?
Around April 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Newark Wtr Wks. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 17.
What planting zone is Newark in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Newark?
Start seeds indoors March 21 to April 4 and set plants out May 16 to 30; the safest date to plant out is after May 17.
When is the first frost in Newark?
Around October 16 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.