USDA zone 6a in Ohio
USDA plant hardiness zone 6a covers 71 locations across Ohio (average annual extreme minimum −10 to −5 °F): Alliance, OH, Arlington, OH, Austinburg, OH, Beavercreek, OH, Bellefontaine, OH, Berlin, OH, and 65 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges April 8 (Solon) to May 10 (Roaming Shores), and growing seasons run 154–217 days (Roaming Shores to Solon) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every Ohio location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Wellington, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 6a−10 to −5 °F
- Last frost range
- Apr 8–May 10avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Oct 8–Nov 12avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 154–217days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Atwater, Robertsville, Limaville | Akron Canton Rgnl Ap | Apr 24 | Oct 26 | 184 |
| Arlington | Mount Blanchard, Rawson, Benton Ridge, Jenera | Findlay Ap | Apr 19 | Oct 23 | 185 |
| Austinburg | Jefferson, Pymatuning North | Ashtabula Co Ap | May 2 | Oct 21 | 171 |
| Beavercreek | Cedarville | Xenia 6 Sse | Apr 18 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Bellefontaine | East Liberty, Raymond, West Liberty, De Graff, Russells Point, West Mansfield, +7 more | Bellefontaine | Apr 26 | Oct 20 | 175 |
| Berlin | Millersburg, Walnut Creek, Mount Hope, Winesburg, Killbuck, Holmesville, +2 more | Millersburg | May 2 | Oct 14 | 164 |
| Bluffton | Glandorf, Kalida, Columbus Grove, Pandora, Beaverdam, Belmore, +4 more | Pandora | Apr 23 | Oct 22 | 180 |
| Broadview Heights | — | Cleveland | Apr 20 | Nov 3 | 198 |
| Bryan | Sherwood, Stryker, Ney | Defiance Mem Ap | Apr 28 | Oct 17 | 170 |
| Buchtel | — | Athens Ou | Apr 25 | Oct 23 | 179 |
| Bucyrus | Iberia, New Washington, Nevada, Tiro, Chatfield, Sulphur Springs, +1 more | Bucyrus | Apr 19 | Oct 27 | 190 |
| Chesterland | Bainbridge, Madison, Chardon, South Russell, Orwell, Burton, +1 more | Chardon | May 5 | Oct 18 | 164 |
| Clayton | Troy, Tipp, Brookville, West Milton, Pleasant Hill, Potsdam, +4 more | Dayton Intl Ap | Apr 16 | Oct 28 | 194 |
| Covington | Russia | Piqua Wwtp | Apr 18 | Oct 23 | 186 |
| Dayton | New Lebanon | Dayton Mcd | Apr 18 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Defiance | Continental, Holgate, Hamler, Florida, New Bavaria | Defiance | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 183 |
| East Fultonham | — | Philo 3 Sw | Apr 19 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Eaton | Camden, Lewisburg, Gratis, West Alexandria, West Elkton, Verona, +4 more | Eaton | Apr 25 | Oct 20 | 176 |
| Granville South | Hebron, Buckeye Lake, Kirkersville, Jacksontown, Millersport, Brownsville, +3 more | Newark Heath Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 18 | 178 |
| Green Springs | Old Fort, Bettsville, Kansas, Burgoon | Fremont | Apr 26 | Oct 23 | 179 |
| Greenville | Versailles, Arcanum, Bradford, Ansonia, North Star, New Madison, +6 more | Greenville Wtp | Apr 21 | Oct 20 | 180 |
| Haydenville | Carbon Hill | Logan | Apr 30 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Hicksville | — | Hicksville | Apr 28 | Oct 17 | 170 |
| Jeffersonville | Port William | Wilmington 3 N | Apr 20 | Oct 20 | 180 |
| Kent | — | Akron Fulton Intl Ap | Apr 24 | Oct 28 | 186 |
| Kent | Atwater | Ravenna 2 S | Apr 21 | Oct 29 | 189 |
| Kenton | Mount Victory, Dola, Dunkirk, Patterson | Kenton | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 182 |
| Lancaster | Bremen, Sugar Grove, Pleasantville | Lancaster | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 183 |
| Lima | Ada, Waynesfield, New Hampshire, Chippewa Park, St. Johns, McGuffey, +3 more | Lima Allen Co Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 22 | 181 |
| Lima | Fort Shawnee, Wapakoneta, Gomer, Elida, Spencerville, Fort Jennings, +2 more | Lima Wwtp | Apr 24 | Oct 24 | 182 |
| London | South Vienna, Midway, South Solon | London Fish Hatchery | Apr 24 | Oct 18 | 175 |
| Loudonville | Butler, Gambier, Nellie, Danville, Bladensburg, Glenmont, +3 more | Danville 2 W | May 2 | Oct 8 | 157 |
| Mansfield | Ashland, Shelby, Plymouth, Greenwich, Shiloh, Perrysville, +4 more | Mansfield Lahm Muni Ap | Apr 26 | Oct 22 | 177 |
| Mansfield | Galion, Lexington, Crestline, Bellville, Hidden Lakes | Mansfield 5 W | Apr 30 | Oct 15 | 167 |
| Maria Stein | Celina, St. Marys, New Bremen, Coldwater, St. Henry, New Knoxville, +7 more | Celina 3 Ne | Apr 27 | Oct 19 | 175 |
| Marion | Morral, Cardington, Harpster, Prospect, Ashley, Waldo, +5 more | Marion 2 N | Apr 25 | Oct 20 | 178 |
| Marysville | Raymond, Richwood, Milford Center, Magnetic Springs, Unionville Center | Marysville | Apr 19 | Oct 26 | 188 |
| McComb | Van Buren | Findlay Wpcc | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 183 |
| Medina | Sullivan, Seville, Lodi, Westfield Center, West Salem, Spencer, +1 more | Chippewa Lake | Apr 29 | Oct 19 | 172 |
| Montpelier | Pioneer, Edgerton, West Unity, Edon, Kunkle, Alvordton, +1 more | Montpelier | Apr 28 | Oct 18 | 173 |
| Mount Vernon | Fredericktown | Fredericktown 4 S | May 1 | Oct 10 | 161 |
| Napoleon | Wauseon, Archbold, Delta, Liberty Center, Fayette, Pettisville, +3 more | Wauseon Wtp | Apr 29 | Oct 16 | 170 |
| Nellie | Trinway | Coshocton Wpc Plt | Apr 27 | Oct 18 | 174 |
| Newark | Nashport, Utica, Frazeysburg, Marne, St. Louisville, Gratiot | Newark Wtr Wks | Apr 29 | Oct 16 | 167 |
| North Baltimore | Deshler, Hoytville, Milton Center, Custar | Hoytville 2 Ne | Apr 24 | Oct 21 | 179 |
| Norwalk | Collins, New London, Holiday Lakes, Monroeville, New Haven, North Fairfield, +1 more | Norwalk Wwtp | Apr 25 | Oct 25 | 183 |
| Oxford | — | Fairfield | Apr 19 | Oct 22 | 186 |
| Pataskala | New Albany, Etna | Columbus Port Columbus Intl Ap | Apr 18 | Oct 27 | 191 |
| Paulding | Cecil, Antwerp, Melrose, Scott, Oakwood, Payne, +4 more | Paulding | Apr 25 | Oct 19 | 175 |
| Piqua | Sidney, Minster, Jackson Center, Rosewood, Botkins, Quincy, +6 more | Sidney 1 S | Apr 27 | Oct 20 | 175 |
| Rittman | Orrville, Creston, Smithville, West Salem, Polk, Sterling, +2 more | Wooster Wayne Co Ap | Apr 29 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Roaming Shores | Orwell, Andover, Rock Creek | Dorset | May 10 | Oct 10 | 154 |
| Salem | Columbiana, Sebring, Guilford Lake, Leetonia, Salineville, Minerva, +7 more | Millport 4 Ne | May 2 | Oct 13 | 165 |
| Shawnee | New Lexington, New Straitsville, Somerset, Junction, East Fultonham, Rendville, +4 more | New Lexington 2 Nw | Apr 30 | Oct 17 | 168 |
| Solon | Twinsburg, Pepper Pike | Cleveland Burke Ap | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 217 |
| Springfield | Yellow Springs, New Carlisle, South Charleston, Lawrenceville, North Hampton, Donnelsville, +4 more | Springfield Wtp | Apr 25 | Oct 19 | 175 |
| Stoutsville | Tarlton, Harrisburg | Circleville | Apr 17 | Oct 28 | 192 |
| Streetsboro | Aurora, Ravenna, Middlefield, Garrettsville, Windham, Orwell, +5 more | Hiram | May 1 | Oct 20 | 170 |
| Sugarcreek | Baltic, Warsaw | Coshocton Ag Rsch Stn | Apr 18 | Oct 28 | 190 |
| Sunbury | Johnstown, Utica, Centerburg, Hartford (Croton), Chesterville, Marengo, +1 more | Centerburg 2 Se | Apr 27 | Oct 17 | 172 |
| Sylvania | Berkey, Swanton, Blissfield, Grand Rapids, Metamora, Neapolis | Toledo Express Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Tiffin | McCutchenville, Republic, Attica, Sycamore, Bloomville, New Riegel | Tiffin | Apr 23 | Oct 23 | 184 |
| Upper Sandusky | Carey, Wharton, Kirby | Upper Sandusky | Apr 29 | Oct 17 | 171 |
| Urbana | St. Paris, North Lewisburg, Mechanicsburg, Woodstock | Urbana Wwtp | Apr 24 | Oct 19 | 179 |
| Van Wert | Delphos, Ottoville, Convoy, Middle Point, Ohio, Wren, +1 more | Van Wert 1 S | Apr 21 | Oct 26 | 187 |
| Wellington * | — | Oberlin | Apr 27 | Oct 22 | 178 |
| Weston | Jerry, Rudolph, Cygnet | Bowling Green Wwtp | Apr 22 | Oct 25 | 186 |
| Wooster | Dalton, Shreve, Apple Creek, Jeromesville, Fredericksburg, Mount Eaton | Wooster Exp Station | Apr 30 | Oct 12 | 163 |
| Youngstown | Hermitage, Girard, Cortland, Hubbard, Sharon, Clark, +7 more | Youngstown Rgnl Ap | May 1 | Oct 17 | 167 |
| Youngstown | Lordstown, Warren, Austintown, Niles, Canfield, Howland Center, +8 more | Warren 3 S | May 8 | Oct 12 | 157 |
| Youngstown | North Lima, Struthers, East Palestine, Frizzleburg, New Bedford, Bessemer, +15 more | New Castle 1 N | Apr 30 | Oct 23 | 175 |
* Wellington is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Wellington, representative)
Computed from Wellington's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Ohiozone 6a group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 4 – May 11 | Jul 3 – Jul 23 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 18 | Jul 10 – Aug 9 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 23 – Jul 13 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 18 – Jul 3 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 23 – Jul 3 | Aug 23 – Sep 2 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jun 26 – Jul 26 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 3 – Jun 18 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 14 – May 29 | Aug 9 – Aug 24 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 10 – May 25 | Jul 30 – Aug 14 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 25 – May 5 | Aug 19 – Aug 29 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Jun 5 – Jun 25 | Jul 20 – Aug 9 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 24 – Jun 13 | Jul 25 – Aug 14 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Wellington's own 178-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Wellington)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00336196. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 7 | May 23 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | 155 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | 178 |
| 28°F | Apr 15 | May 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 17 | 203 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | Nov 14 | Nov 30 | 226 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 71 locations is 3,156; Wellington's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 2,959 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 5,137 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 6a in Ohio
Zone 6a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about −10 to −5 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. Ohio spans 4 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all Ohio locations for the full range, including zones5b, 6b, 7a.
Explore zone 6a in other states at zone 6a, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 6a mean in Ohio?
- Zone 6a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of −10 to −5 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 71 locations in Ohio fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in Ohio's zone 6a is the growing season longest?
- Solon runs the longest season on this page at about 217 days; Roaming Shores is shortest at about 154 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Ohio's zone 6a?
- Using Wellington's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Mar 2 – Mar 16, then transplant outside about May 4 – May 11. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in Ohio's zone 6a have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 71 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.