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When to plant in Kent, OH

USDA Zone 6a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Kent, Ohio — all computed from Kent's nearest NOAA weather station.

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

Station · RAVENNA 2 S · 6.8 km
Last spring frost
April 21
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 29
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
191 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for KentA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Kent: last spring frost around April 21, first fall frost around October 29, about 191 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

RAVENNA 2 S · 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 Kent’s own odds, recorded at RAVENNA 2 S.

Frost-probability curves for KentProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 21 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 191 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 18May 2Apr 18Oct 2Oct 15Oct 29
32°FMay 7Apr 21Apr 8Oct 14Oct 29Nov 10
28°FApr 24Apr 9Mar 28Oct 28Nov 8Nov 24

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 9July 23
Fall sowin 4 days
Rutabaga
July 23August 6
Fall sowin 18 days
Broccoli
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Cabbage
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Carrot
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Cauliflower
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Napa Cabbage
August 6September 3

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

Nearby weather stations

3 within 15 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.

RAVENNA 2 S
Primary
7 km · 337 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 21
FALL
Oct 29
STOW 4 SE
8 km · 323 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 21
AKRON FULTON INTL AP
15 km · 318 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 28

Kent planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Kent, OH?

On average, the last spring frost in Kent is around April 21 (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 Kent, OH?

In Kent, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 29 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Kent in?

Kent 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 Kent?

There are roughly 191 frost-free days in Kent (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 21 to the first fall frost near October 29.

When should I plant tomatoes in Kent?

In Kent, start tomato seeds indoors around February 24–March 10, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 28 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Kent

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at RAVENNA 2 S, 7 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 Kent, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00336949. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/kent.