Akron, Ohio frost dates
Frost risk by date
| Chance of frost | Spring: frost after | Fall: frost before |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | April 10 | November 8 |
| 70% | April 18 | November 1 |
| 50% | April 24 | October 28 |
| 30% | April 30 | October 22 |
| 10% | May 9 | October 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.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Apr 3 | May 1 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 | Mar 27 |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 13 | Mar 27 |
| Cabbage | Feb 6 | Mar 20 |
| Cauliflower | Feb 27 | Apr 10 |
| Sweet corn | Mar 27 | Apr 24 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Cucumbers | Apr 10 | May 1 |
| Kale | Feb 6 | Mar 20 |
| Leeks | Jan 9 | Mar 20 |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 | Apr 10 |
| Melons | Apr 17 | May 8 |
| Onions | Jan 2 | Mar 13 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time) |
| Peas | Feb 27 | Mar 27 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Peppers | Mar 13 | May 8 |
| Squash | Apr 17 | May 8 |
| Tomatoes | Feb 27 | Apr 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
| City | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 20 | Nov 3 | ~53 km |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 23 | Oct 23 | ~121 km |
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Oct 27 | ~166 km |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 20 | Oct 27 | ~205 km |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | ~205 km |
| Dayton, OH | Apr 16 | Oct 28 | ~263 km |
More: all Ohio frost dates