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When to plant in Wooster, OH

USDA Zone 6a

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

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

Station · WOOSTER EXP STATION · 4.2 km
Last spring frost
April 30
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 12
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
165 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for WoosterA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Wooster: last spring frost around April 30, first fall frost around October 12, about 165 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Wooster is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

WOOSTER EXP STATION · 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 Wooster’s own odds, recorded at WOOSTER EXP STATION.

Frost-probability curves for WoosterProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 165 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 28May 12Apr 26Sep 21Oct 3Oct 16
32°FMay 18Apr 30Apr 17Sep 29Oct 12Oct 26
28°FMay 5Apr 20Apr 5Oct 9Oct 24Nov 9

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
Rutabaga
July 6July 20
Fall sowin 1 days
Broccoli
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cabbage
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Carrot
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cauliflower
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Napa Cabbage
July 20August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Beet
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Collards
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Endive
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Escarole
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Kale
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Kohlrabi
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Peas
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Radicchio
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Swiss Chard
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Turnip
August 3August 31

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

Nearby weather stations

3 within 7 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.

WOOSTER EXP STATION
Primary
4 km · 311 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 12
WOOSTER 3 SSE
6 km · 336 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 21
WOOSTER WAYNE CO AP
7 km · 347 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 29
FALL
Oct 14

Wooster planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Wooster, OH?

Wooster's average last spring frost falls near April 30 — 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 Wooster, OH?

The first fall frost in Wooster typically arrives around October 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Wooster in?

Wooster 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 Wooster?

There are roughly 165 frost-free days in Wooster (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 30 to the first fall frost near October 12.

When should I plant tomatoes in Wooster?

In Wooster, start tomato seeds indoors around March 5–March 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 7 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Wooster

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at WOOSTER EXP STATION, 4 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 Wooster, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00339312. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/wooster.
When to Plant in Wooster, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden