When to plant in Wilmington, OH
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Wilmington, Ohio — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6b means Wilmington sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
WFO WILMINGTON · 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 Wilmington’s own odds, recorded at WFO WILMINGTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 14 | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 4 | Apr 17 | Apr 3 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 20 | Apr 4 | Mar 21 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 Wilmington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 7 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.
Wilmington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Wilmington, OH?
On average, the last spring frost in Wilmington is around April 17 (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 Wilmington, OH?
In Wilmington, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 22 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Wilmington in?
Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
There are roughly 188 frost-free days in Wilmington (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 17 to the first fall frost near October 22.
When should I plant tomatoes in Wilmington?
In Wilmington, start tomato seeds indoors around February 20–March 6, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 24 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Wilmington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Wilmington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Xenia · 30 km
- Lebanon · 34 km
- Washington Court House · 35 km
- Centerville · 36 km
- Springboro · 39 km
- Beavercreek · 40 km
- Kettering · 41 km
- Mason · 42 km
Frost dates recorded at WFO WILMINGTON, 1 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 Wilmington, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00339220. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/wilmington.