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When to plant in Bellefontaine, OH

USDA Zone 6a

Bellefontaine, Ohio frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

Zone 6a means Bellefontaine sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · BELLEFONTAINE · 1.4 km
Last spring frost
April 26
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 20
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
177 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for BellefontaineA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Bellefontaine: last spring frost around April 26, first fall frost around October 20, about 177 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Bellefontaine is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

BELLEFONTAINE · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bellefontaine’s own odds, recorded at BELLEFONTAINE.

Frost-probability curves for BellefontaineProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 177 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 21May 5Apr 20Sep 26Oct 9Oct 22
32°FMay 12Apr 26Apr 12Oct 7Oct 20Oct 31
28°FMay 2Apr 16Apr 1Oct 16Oct 30Nov 12

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 14July 28
Fall sowin 9 days
Broccoli
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Cabbage
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Carrot
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Cauliflower
July 28August 11
Fall sowin 9 days
Napa Cabbage
July 28August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Beet
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Collards
August 11September 8
Fall sowin 23 days
Endive
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Escarole
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Kale
August 11September 8
Fall sowin 23 days
Kohlrabi
August 11September 8
Fall sowin 23 days
Peas
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Radicchio
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Swiss Chard
August 11August 25
Fall sowin 23 days
Turnip
August 11September 8

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bellefontaine, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 29 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

BELLEFONTAINE
Primary
1 km · 358 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 26
FALL
Oct 20
HUNTSVILLE 3N
14 km · 315 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 22
FALL
Oct 27
URBANA WWTP
29 km · 311 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 19

Bellefontaine planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Bellefontaine, OH?

On average, the last spring frost in Bellefontaine is around April 26 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Bellefontaine, OH?

The first fall frost in Bellefontaine typically arrives around October 20 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Bellefontaine in?

Bellefontaine is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Bellefontaine?

There are roughly 177 frost-free days in Bellefontaine (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 26 to the first fall frost near October 20.

When should I plant tomatoes in Bellefontaine?

In Bellefontaine, start tomato seeds indoors around March 1–March 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 3 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Bellefontaine

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bellefontaine’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at BELLEFONTAINE, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bellefontaine, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00330563. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/bellefontaine.
When to Plant in Bellefontaine, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden