When to plant in Mount Vernon, OH
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Mount Vernon, Ohio — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6a means Mount Vernon sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Mount Vernon is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
FREDERICKTOWN 4 S · 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 Mount Vernon’s own odds, recorded at FREDERICKTOWN 4 S.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 10 | Apr 26 | Sep 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 18 | May 1 | Apr 18 | Sep 27 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | May 6 | Apr 21 | Apr 7 | Oct 7 | Oct 23 | Nov 3 |
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 Mount Vernon, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 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.
Mount Vernon planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Mount Vernon, OH?
Plan for the last spring frost in Mount Vernon around May 1 (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 Mount Vernon, OH?
In Mount Vernon, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 10 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Mount Vernon in?
Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon?
There are roughly 162 frost-free days in Mount Vernon (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 1 to the first fall frost near October 10.
When should I plant tomatoes in Mount Vernon?
In Mount Vernon, start tomato seeds indoors around March 6–March 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Mount Vernon
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Mount Vernon’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Newark · 35 km
- Heath · 41 km
- New Albany · 42 km
- Mansfield · 43 km
- Pataskala · 46 km
- Galion · 47 km
- Westerville · 47 km
- Gahanna · 52 km
Frost dates recorded at FREDERICKTOWN 4 S, 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 Mount Vernon, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00332956. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/mount-vernon.