When is the last frost in Cincinnati, OH?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Cincinnati is April 18, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 7.

When is the first frost in Cincinnati?

The average first fall frost in Cincinnati is October 25, with a growing season of about 188 days.

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Cincinnati, Ohio frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 18. Average first fall frost: October 25. That gives a growing season of about 188 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 7, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 18

1-in-10 risk after May 7

First frost (50%)

Oct 25

1-in-10 risk before Oct 12

Growing season

188 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 5

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 3	November 5
70%	April 12	October 30
50%	April 18	October 25
30%	April 26	October 20
10%	May 7	October 12

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 7. These are NOAA probabilities for the Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport weather station (USW00093814, elevation 265 m), 1991–2020.

Cincinnati vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 18). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 7) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 28	Apr 25 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 7	Mar 21
Brussels sprouts	Feb 7	Mar 21
Cabbage	Jan 31	Mar 14
Cauliflower	Feb 21	Apr 4
Sweet corn	Mar 21	Apr 18 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 4	Apr 25
Kale	Jan 31	Mar 14
Leeks	Jan 3	Mar 14
Lettuce	Feb 28	Apr 4
Melons	Apr 11	May 2
Onions	Dec 27	Mar 7 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 21	Mar 21 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 7	May 2
Squash	Apr 11	May 2
Tomatoes	Feb 21	Apr 18

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 25. 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 3.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Dayton, OH	Apr 16	Oct 28	~103 km
Lexington, KY	Apr 13	Oct 28	~111 km
Louisville, KY	Mar 31	Nov 7	~133 km
Indianapolis, IN	Apr 15	Oct 26	~157 km
Columbus, OH	Apr 18	Oct 27	~187 km
Fort Wayne, IN	Apr 24	Oct 21	~219 km

More: all Ohio frost dates