When to plant in Dayton, OH
USDA Zone 6bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Dayton, Ohio — all computed from Dayton's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 6b means Dayton sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average last spring frost in Dayton is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
DAYTON MCD · 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 Dayton’s own odds, recorded at DAYTON MCD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | May 5 | Apr 18 | Apr 3 | Oct 13 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 6 | Mar 23 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 |
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 Dayton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Dayton planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Dayton, OH?
Plan for the last spring frost in Dayton around April 18 (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 Dayton, OH?
Expect Dayton's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Dayton in?
Dayton 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 Dayton?
There are roughly 190 frost-free days in Dayton (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 18 to the first fall frost near October 25.
When should I plant tomatoes in Dayton?
In Dayton, start tomato seeds indoors around February 21–March 7, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 25 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Dayton
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Dayton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Shiloh · 4 km
- Riverside · 6 km
- Trotwood · 10 km
- Vandalia · 10 km
- Kettering · 11 km
- Huber Heights · 11 km
- Englewood · 13 km
- Beavercreek · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at DAYTON MCD, 2 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 Dayton, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00332067. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/dayton.