Frost dates & planting calendar for Columbus, OH
Frost dates
Apr 20
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: May 7. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 24
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 13. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
185
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
6b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: −5 to 0°F (−20.6 to −17.8°C).
Zone for ZIP 43201, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 6b means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 185 days. Station: Columbus Wcmh, OH, 6 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not this season. Start tomato seeds indoors from Mar 12 to Mar 26, then plant them out from May 7 to May 21.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (May 7 in spring, Oct 13 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
March
The next window opens in March.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- May 7 – May 21
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- May 7 – May 21
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 9 – May 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 9 – May 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – May 7
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 12
- Transplant outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 30 – May 7
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 12
- Start indoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 23
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 23
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 26
- Start indoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 9
April
The next window opens in April.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 9
- Start indoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 14
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 9
- Start indoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 14
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 9
- Start indoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- May 14 – May 21
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Apr 9
- Start indoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Transplant outdoors
- May 14 – May 21
- Sow outdoors
- May 14 – May 21
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Apr 9
- Start indoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- May 14 – May 21
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – May 7
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 23
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
- Sow for fall
- Jul 21 – Aug 4
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – May 7
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
May
The next window opens in May.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from May 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from May 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from May 7
- Transplant outdoors
- May 7 – May 7
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from May 14
- Sow outdoors
- May 14 – May 21
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 21
- Sow outdoors
- May 21 – May 21
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 1
- Sow for fall
- Sep 1 – Sep 1
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Columbus?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Columbus is Apr 20. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after May 7.
- When is the first frost in Columbus?
- The typical first fall frost is Oct 24. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 13.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Columbus?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Mar 12 and Mar 26, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Columbus in?
- Columbus is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 43201, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
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