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Youngstown, Ohio planting calendar and frost dates

Youngstown is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 17, giving about 167 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a
Typical last frost
May 1
Typical first frost
October 17
Frost-free season
167 days

Frost dates in Youngstown

Last spring frost

  • April 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 17Typical: 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 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 20 and returns around November 1.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Youngstown Rgnl Airport, 9.2 miles NNW of the city center and 137 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 Youngstown

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. 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

  4. 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, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Start indoors: zinnias

    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

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. 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

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Youngstown

All 8 of Youngstown's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Youngstown Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
445026aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 12 mi NMay 1Oct 17
445046aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 9.1 mi NMay 1Oct 17
445056aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 9.2 mi NNWMay 1Oct 17
445066aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 11.4 mi NNWMay 1Oct 17
445076aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 12.5 mi NMay 1Oct 17
445096aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 10 mi NMay 1Oct 17
445106aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 9.1 mi NMay 1Oct 17
445116aYoungstown Rgnl Airport, 12.9 mi NMay 1Oct 17

Planting dates for popular crops in Youngstown

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 24 to Apr 7May 19 to Jun 2—
Strawberries—Mar 20 to Apr 3—
LettuceMar 6 to 20Apr 24 to May 8Jul 18 to Aug 22
CilantroMar 20 to Apr 3May 1 to 8—
BasilMar 31 to Apr 14May 19 to 26—
Potatoes—Apr 18 to 25—
Garlic—Mar 20 to Apr 3Oct 17 to 31
OnionsJan 9 to Feb 20Apr 3 to 17—
CucumbersApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2—
PumpkinsApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2—
PeppersMar 3 to 31May 19 to Jun 2—
Carrots—Apr 10 to May 1Jul 25 to Aug 15
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 6 to 13—
WatermelonsApr 14 to 28May 19 to Jun 2—
Sweet Corn—May 1 to 15—
Green Beans—May 19 to Jun 2—
ZucchiniApr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2—
BroccoliFeb 13 to Mar 6Apr 3 to 17Aug 1 to 29
Peas—Mar 20 to Apr 3Jul 25 to Aug 8
SpinachMar 20 to 27Apr 24 to May 8Aug 8 to Sep 12
Sunflowers—May 1 to 22—
ZinniasMay 30 to Jun 6Jun 27 to Jul 11—
Tulips——Sep 5 to Oct 31
Daffodils——Sep 5 to Oct 17
Grass Seed—Mar 20 to Apr 3Sep 5 to 19

Nearby cities

Planting in OhioAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Youngstown

Questions

When is the last frost in Youngstown?

Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Youngstown Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 20.

What planting zone is Youngstown 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 Youngstown?

Start seeds indoors March 24 to April 7 and set plants out May 19 to June 2; the safest date to plant out is after May 20.

When is the first frost in Youngstown?

Around October 17 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.