Springfield, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates
Springfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 25 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 175 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 25
- Typical first frost
- October 19
- Frost-free season
- 175 days
Frost dates in Springfield
Last spring frost
- April 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 4Risky: 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 175 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 15 and returns around October 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Springfield Wtp, 2.2 miles WNW of the city center and 109 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 Springfield
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, 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, 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: cosmos, okra, 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 Springfield
All 5 of Springfield's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Springfield Wtp, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Springfield
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Cilantro | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Basil | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
| Onions | Jan 3 to Feb 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 25 to Mar 25 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 4 to 25 | Jul 27 to Aug 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 8 to 22 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 7 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Peas | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Spinach | Mar 14 to 21 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 25 to May 16 | — |
| Zinnias | May 18 to 25 | Jun 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 7 to Nov 2 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 7 to Oct 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Sep 7 to 21 |
Nearby cities
- Dayton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Kettering, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Middletown, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 24
- Columbus, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Hamilton, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
- Cincinnati, OH zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
Planting in OhioAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Springfield
Questions
When is the last frost in Springfield?
Around April 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Springfield Wtp. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.
What planting zone is Springfield 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 Springfield?
Start seeds indoors March 18 to April 1 and set plants out May 13 to 27.
When is the first frost in Springfield?
Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.