Parma, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Parma is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 8 and the first fall frost around November 12, giving about 217 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 8
- Typical first frost
- November 12
- Frost-free season
- 217 days
Frost dates in Parma
Last spring frost
- March 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 12Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 217 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 1 and returns around November 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cleveland Burke Airport, 1.4 miles NNE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Parma shares this station with Cleveland, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Parma
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, 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, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: potatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
September
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
October
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
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Parma
All 3 of Parma's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Cleveland Burke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44129 | 6b | Cleveland Burke Airport, 1.4 mi NNE | Apr 8 | Nov 12 |
| 44130 | 6b | Cleveland Burke Airport, 1.4 mi NNE | Apr 8 | Nov 12 |
| 44134 | 6b | Cleveland Burke Airport, 1.4 mi NNE | Apr 8 | Nov 12 |
Cleveland Burke Airport also supplies the frost dates for Cleveland, so their planting calendars match Parma's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Parma
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Cilantro | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 18 to 25 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Nov 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Dec 17 to Jan 28 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 27 to Mar 27 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 18 to Apr 8 | Aug 20 to Sep 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 10 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 21 to Feb 11 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Peas | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Spinach | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Sep 3 to Oct 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 18 to May 9 | — |
| Zinnias | May 18 to 25 | Jun 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Cleveland, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Elyria, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Akron, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Lorain, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Canton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Parma
Questions
When is the last frost in Parma?
Around April 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Cleveland Burke Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 20.
What planting zone is Parma 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 Parma?
Start seeds indoors March 20 to April 3 and set plants out May 15 to 29.
When is the first frost in Parma?
Around November 12 in a typical year, and before November 1 about 1 year in 10.