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When to plant in Clayton, OH

USDA Zone 6a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Clayton, Ohio — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

In zone 6a, Clayton gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · DAYTON INTL AP · 10.0 km
Last spring frost
April 16
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 28
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
195 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for ClaytonA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Clayton: last spring frost around April 16, first fall frost around October 28, about 195 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

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

Frost probability

DAYTON INTL AP · 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 Clayton’s own odds, recorded at DAYTON INTL AP.

Frost-probability curves for ClaytonProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 195 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 13Apr 27Apr 13Oct 5Oct 18Oct 30
32°FMay 3Apr 16Apr 2Oct 16Oct 28Nov 9
28°FApr 19Apr 4Mar 21Oct 26Nov 6Nov 23

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
Brussels Sprouts
July 8July 22
Fall sowin 3 days
Rutabaga
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 17 days
Broccoli
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Cabbage
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Carrot
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Cauliflower
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Napa Cabbage
August 5September 2

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 Clayton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 26 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.

DAYTON INTL AP
Primary
10 km · 305 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 16
FALL
Oct 28
DAYTON MCD
16 km · 220 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 18
FALL
Oct 25
NEW CARLISLE
26 km · 266 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 17

Clayton planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Clayton, OH?

On average, the last spring frost in Clayton is around April 16 (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 Clayton, OH?

Expect Clayton's first fall frost near October 28 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Clayton in?

Clayton 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 Clayton?

Clayton has about 195 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 16) and first fall frost (October 28).

When should I plant tomatoes in Clayton?

For Clayton, sow tomatoes indoors about February 19–March 5 and move the seedlings out around April 23, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Clayton

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at DAYTON INTL AP, 10 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 Clayton, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093815. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/clayton.
When to Plant in Clayton, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden