When to plant in Defiance, OH
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Defiance, Ohio — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Defiance gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
DEFIANCE · 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 Defiance’s own odds, recorded at DEFIANCE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 2 | Apr 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 22 | Apr 10 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 10 | Mar 27 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
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 Defiance, 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.
Defiance planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Defiance, OH?
Defiance's average last spring frost falls near April 22 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Defiance, OH?
Expect Defiance's first fall frost near October 24 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Defiance in?
Defiance 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 Defiance?
Defiance has about 185 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 22) and first fall frost (October 24).
When should I plant tomatoes in Defiance?
For Defiance, sow tomatoes indoors about February 25–March 11 and move the seedlings out around April 29, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Defiance
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Defiance’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Van Wert · 50 km
- Auburn · 58 km
- New Haven · 59 km
- Bowling Green · 61 km
- Lima · 64 km
- Findlay · 66 km
- Maumee · 67 km
- Perrysburg · 67 km
Frost dates recorded at DEFIANCE, 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 Defiance, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00332098. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/defiance.