When to plant in Mentor, OH
USDA Zone 7aMentor, Ohio frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 7a, Mentor supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average first fall frost in Mentor is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PAINESVILLE 4 NW · 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 Mentor’s own odds, recorded at PAINESVILLE 4 NW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 12 | Apr 28 | Apr 15 | Oct 14 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F | Apr 27 | Apr 15 | Apr 2 | Oct 30 | Nov 9 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | Apr 4 | Mar 21 | Nov 7 | Nov 21 | Dec 7 |
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 Mentor, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 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.
Mentor planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Mentor, OH?
On average, the last spring frost in Mentor is around April 15 (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 Mentor, OH?
The first fall frost in Mentor typically arrives around November 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Mentor in?
Mentor is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Mentor?
Mentor has about 208 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 15) and first fall frost (November 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Mentor?
For Mentor, sow tomatoes indoors about February 18–March 4 and move the seedlings out around April 22, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Mentor
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Mentor’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Painesville · 7 km
- Willoughby · 8 km
- Eastlake · 9 km
- Willowick · 13 km
- Wickliffe · 14 km
- Euclid · 19 km
- Richmond Heights · 20 km
- Mayfield Heights · 22 km
Frost dates recorded at PAINESVILLE 4 NW, 8 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 Mentor, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00336389. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/mentor.