In Columbus, OH, the average last spring frost is Apr 22 and the average first fall frost is Oct 23, which leaves about 183 frost-free days for the garden. These dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Columbus Ohio State University Airport, OH weather station, at 905 feet above sea level.
A long season lets you do more than one planting: a spring crop, a second planting of quick crops in summer, and a fall garden. Succession planting works well here. Frost timing varies from year to year: in about 1 spring in 10 the last frost falls as late as May 9, and in about 1 fall in 10 the first frost arrives as early as Oct 9.
Frost dates for Columbus, OH
| Chance of a freeze (32°F) after or before this date | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Freeze-free season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic (about 1 year in 10) | Apr 6 | Nov 4 | 212 days |
| Average (half of years) | Apr 22 | Oct 23 | 183 days |
| Cautious (9 years in 10 are safe) | May 9 | Oct 9 | 153 days |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020. Use the cautious dates for tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers.
When to plant in Columbus, OH
These windows count weeks forward and back from the average frost dates above. They are planning guides: check the forecast before planting tender crops, and see our what to plant now tool for today's date.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors in spring | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 6 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 11 to Feb 25 | May 6 to May 13 | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 11 to Feb 25 | May 6 to May 13 | – |
| Onions | Feb 11 to Feb 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | – |
| Parsley | Feb 11 to Feb 25 | Apr 22 to Apr 29 | – |
| Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 8 to Apr 15 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Basil | Mar 11 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 6 | – |
| Peas | Sow outdoors | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | Aug 28 to Sep 25 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | Aug 28 to Sep 25 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 28 to Sep 25 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Beets | Sow outdoors | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Potatoes | Sow outdoors | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | – |
| Kale | Sow outdoors | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Swiss chard | Sow outdoors | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | – |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors | Apr 8 to Apr 22 | Aug 28 to Sep 25 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors | Apr 22 to Apr 29 | – |
| Bush beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 to May 6 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Pole beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 to May 6 | – |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 to May 6 | – |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 to May 6 | Jul 10 to Jul 24 |
| Zucchini and summer squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 to May 6 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Winter squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 29 to May 6 | – |
| Sweet potatoes (slips) | Sow outdoors | May 6 to May 20 | – |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 6 to May 20 | – |
A dash in the fall column means the crop is not usually planted in fall, or the season is too short.
Overnight lows this week
The National Weather Service forecast shows frost risk on: Sun 15 night (31°F), Mon 16 night (28°F), Tue 17 night (30°F), Wed 18 night (33°F). Cover tender plants before dark on those nights.
| Night | Forecast low | Frost risk |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 15 night | 31°F | Freeze |
| Mon 16 night | 28°F | Freeze |
| Tue 17 night | 30°F | Freeze |
| Wed 18 night | 33°F | Frost possible |
| Thu 19 night | 41°F | No frost expected |
| Fri 20 night | 41°F | No frost expected |
| Sat 21 night | 44°F | No frost expected |
Live forecast for the station location, from the National Weather Service. For your own ZIP code, use our garden weather forecast.
More garden tools for Columbus, OH
- Frost dates by ZIP code for your exact location
- What to plant now, based on today's date
- Garden weather forecast by ZIP code
- Safe transplant date calculator
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Columbus, OH?
The average last spring frost is Apr 22. A late frost as far out as May 9 happens in about 1 year in 10, so tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers are safest after that cautious date.
When is the first frost in Columbus, OH?
The average first fall frost is Oct 23. It can arrive as early as Oct 9 in about 1 year in 10, so plan to harvest tender crops before then.
How long is the growing season in Columbus, OH?
The average freeze-free season is about 183 days, between the average last spring frost and the average first fall frost.
Where do these dates come from?
They come from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the Columbus Ohio State University Airport, OH station. Hills, valleys, lakes and city heat can shift frost by a week or more, so compare with neighbors who garden near you.