When to plant in Columbus, OH
USDA Zone 6bColumbus, Ohio frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6b means Columbus sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
COLUMBUS WCMH · 1991–2020The 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 Columbus’s own odds, recorded at COLUMBUS WCMH.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | Apr 30 | Apr 17 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 20 | Apr 5 | Oct 13 | Oct 24 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 25 | Apr 8 | Mar 24 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 | Nov 16 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Columbus, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 11 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen 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.
Columbus planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Columbus, OH?
Plan for the last spring frost in Columbus around April 20 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Columbus, OH?
In Columbus, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 24 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Columbus in?
Columbus is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Columbus?
There are roughly 187 frost-free days in Columbus (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 20 to the first fall frost near October 24.
When should I plant tomatoes in Columbus?
In Columbus, start tomato seeds indoors around February 23–March 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Columbus
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Columbus’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bexley · 5 km
- Upper Arlington · 9 km
- Whitehall · 9 km
- Gahanna · 11 km
- Worthington · 13 km
- Grove City · 15 km
- Hilliard · 16 km
- Westerville · 17 km
Frost dates recorded at COLUMBUS WCMH, 6 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Columbus, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00331785. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/columbus.