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Akron, Ohio frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 24. Average first fall frost: October 28. That gives a growing season of about 186 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 9, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.
Last frost (50%)
Apr 24
1-in-10 risk after May 9
First frost (50%)
Oct 28
1-in-10 risk before Oct 12
Growing season
186 days
median frost-free days
Hard freeze (28°F)
Apr 13
median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frostSpring: frost afterFall: frost before
90%April 10November 8
70%April 18November 1
50%April 24October 28
30%April 30October 22
10%May 9October 12

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 9. These are NOAA probabilities for the Akron Fulton International Airport weather station (USW00014813, elevation 318 m), 1991–2020.

Akron vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 24). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 9) is the cautious choice.

CropStart seeds indoorsPlant out
BeansApr 3May 1 (usually sown directly in the garden)
BroccoliFeb 13Mar 27
Brussels sproutsFeb 13Mar 27
CabbageFeb 6Mar 20
CauliflowerFeb 27Apr 10
Sweet cornMar 27Apr 24 (usually sown directly in the garden)
CucumbersApr 10May 1
KaleFeb 6Mar 20
LeeksJan 9Mar 20
LettuceMar 6Apr 10
MelonsApr 17May 8
OnionsJan 2Mar 13 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
PeasFeb 27Mar 27 (usually sown directly in the garden)
PeppersMar 13May 8
SquashApr 17May 8
TomatoesFeb 27Apr 24

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 28. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 12. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 7.

Nearby cities

CityLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)Distance
Cleveland, OHApr 20Nov 3~53 km
Pittsburgh, PAApr 23Oct 23~121 km
Columbus, OHApr 18Oct 27~166 km
Detroit, MIApr 20Oct 27~205 km
Toledo, OHApr 22Oct 24~205 km
Dayton, OHApr 16Oct 28~263 km

More: all Ohio frost dates