USDA zone 6b in Ohio
USDA plant hardiness zone 6b covers 77 locations across Ohio (average annual extreme minimum −5 to 0 °F): Akron, OH, Albany, OH, Athens, OH, Barnesville, OH, Bethel, OH, Beverly, OH, and 71 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges April 8 (Cleveland) to May 8 (Conneaut), and growing seasons run 160–217 days (Conneaut to Cleveland) — 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 Columbus, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 6b−5 to 0 °F
- Last frost range
- Apr 8–May 8avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Oct 13–Nov 12avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 160–217days
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | Cuyahoga Falls, Tallmadge, Montrose-Ghent, Peninsula, Lakemore, Silver Lake, +1 more | Akron Fulton Intl Ap | Apr 24 | Oct 28 | 186 |
| Albany | Rutland, Wilkesville | Carpenter 2 S | Apr 27 | Oct 14 | 168 |
| Athens | Pomeroy, The Plains, Tuppers Plains, Trimble, Millfield, Chauncey, +5 more | Athens Ou | Apr 25 | Oct 23 | 179 |
| Barnesville | Bethesda, Fairview | Barnesville | Apr 27 | Oct 22 | 177 |
| Bethel | Falmouth, Hamersville, Neville, Moscow, Felicity, California, +2 more | Chilo Meldahl Locks & Dam | Apr 16 | Oct 31 | 196 |
| Beverly | Chesterhill, Waterford, Vincent, Stockport, Lowell, Macksburg, +1 more | Beverly Stp | Apr 24 | Oct 22 | 178 |
| Blanchester | Morrow, Martinsville, Midland, Pleasant Plain | Cincinnati | Apr 19 | Oct 22 | 185 |
| Bloomdale | Arcadia, New Riegel | Findlay Wpcc | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 183 |
| Bowling Green | Perrysburg, Haskins, Portage, Woodville, Pemberville, Luckey, +5 more | Bowling Green Wwtp | Apr 22 | Oct 25 | 186 |
| Brilliant | West Alexander, West Liberty, Wellsburg, Bethany, West Middletown, Claysville, +1 more | Wheeling Ohio Co Ap | Apr 23 | Oct 25 | 185 |
| Cadiz | — | Cadiz | Apr 21 | Oct 25 | 186 |
| Caldwell | Stafford | Caldwell 3se | Apr 30 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Cambridge | New Concord, Byesville, Old Washington, Quaker, Kimbolton, Buffalo, +7 more | Cambridge | Apr 28 | Oct 17 | 172 |
| Carrollton | Dennison, Holloway, Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas, Midvale, Freeport, +8 more | Dennison Wtr Wks | Apr 29 | Oct 15 | 170 |
| Centerville | — | Dayton Wright Bros Ap | Apr 17 | Oct 26 | 192 |
| Chillicothe | Waverly, Piketon, Bainbridge, Bourneville, Sinking Spring, Rarden | Waverly | Apr 21 | Oct 22 | 182 |
| Cincinnati | Mack, Taylor Creek, Shawnee, White Oak, Harrison, Covedale, +6 more | Cheviot | Apr 17 | Oct 26 | 191 |
| Cincinnati | The Village of Indian Hill, Claryville, Amelia, Montgomery, Loveland, Dry Run, +20 more | Cincinnati Lunken Ap | Apr 16 | Oct 25 | 190 |
| Clarksville | — | Wfo Wilmington | Apr 17 | Oct 22 | 187 |
| Cleveland | Macedonia, Independence, Cleveland Heights, Garfield Heights, Shaker Heights, Bedford, +8 more | Cleveland Burke Ap | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 217 |
| Columbus | Groveport, Lockbourne | Columbus-valley Crossing | Apr 23 | Oct 19 | 177 |
| Columbus | Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, Brice | Columbus Port Columbus Intl Ap | Apr 18 | Oct 27 | 191 |
| Columbus * | Dublin, Grove, Hilliard, West Jefferson, Powell, Lake Darby | Columbus Ohio State Univ Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 23 | 183 |
| Columbus | Westerville, Powell, Worthington, Galena, Kilbourne | Westerville | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 183 |
| Commercial Point | Ashville, Williamsport, Mount Sterling, Derby, Frankfort, Kingston, +5 more | Circleville | Apr 17 | Oct 28 | 192 |
| Conneaut | Lake | Springboro 3 Wnw | May 8 | Oct 16 | 160 |
| Coshocton | West Lafayette, Plainfield, Conesville, Adamsville | Coshocton Wpc Plt | Apr 27 | Oct 18 | 174 |
| Dayton | Huber Heights, Vandalia, Shiloh, Medway | Dayton Intl Ap | Apr 16 | Oct 28 | 194 |
| Dayton | Trotwood, Beavercreek, Kettering, Fairborn, Centerville, Wright-Patterson AFB, +5 more | Dayton Mcd | Apr 18 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Delaware | Plain, Ostrander | Marysville | Apr 19 | Oct 26 | 188 |
| Duncan Falls | Philo | Philo 3 Sw | Apr 19 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Enon | — | Springfield Wtp | Apr 25 | Oct 19 | 175 |
| Fairfield | Forest Park, Dry Ridge, New Haven, Mount Healthy Heights, Millville, Pleasant Hills | Fairfield | Apr 19 | Oct 22 | 186 |
| Farmersville | — | Eaton | Apr 25 | Oct 20 | 176 |
| Findlay | Vanlue | Findlay Ap | Apr 19 | Oct 23 | 185 |
| Fostoria | Bascom | Tiffin | Apr 23 | Oct 23 | 184 |
| Fremont | Clyde, Gibsonburg, Oak Harbor, Lindsey, Rocky Ridge, Elmore, +1 more | Fremont | Apr 26 | Oct 23 | 179 |
| Gallipolis | Point Pleasant, Gallipolis Ferry, Middleport, Bidwell, Rio Grande, Hartford, +8 more | Gallipolis | Apr 18 | Oct 28 | 192 |
| Glouster | Murray | New Lexington 2 Nw | Apr 30 | Oct 17 | 168 |
| Green | Canton, New Franklin, Norton, Massillon, Louisville, Portage Lakes, +16 more | Akron Canton Rgnl Ap | Apr 24 | Oct 26 | 184 |
| Hamilton | Mason, Sharonville, Forest Park, Springdale, Trenton, Kings Mills, +5 more | Hamilton Butler Co Rgnl Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 18 | 178 |
| Hudson | Stow, Richfield, Munroe Falls | Stow 4 Se | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | 173 |
| Jackson | Wellston, McArthur, Coalton, Hamden, Richmond Dale, Beaver, +1 more | Jackson 3 Nw | Apr 22 | Oct 21 | 181 |
| Kirtland | Gates Mills, Chagrin Falls | Chardon | May 5 | Oct 18 | 164 |
| Lisbon | Damascus | Millport 4 Ne | May 2 | Oct 13 | 165 |
| Lithopolis | Baltimore, Carroll, Thurston, Amanda | Lancaster Fairfield Ap | Apr 26 | Oct 13 | 169 |
| Logan | Nelsonville, Haydenville, Zaleski, Laurelville | Logan | Apr 30 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Lorain | North Ridgeville, Avon, Elyria, Grafton, LaGrange, Valley, +1 more | Elyria 3 E | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 192 |
| Lucasville | Garrison, Minford, Friendship, South Shore, McDermott, Rome (Stout), +1 more | Portsmouth-sciotoville | Apr 17 | Oct 25 | 191 |
| Marietta | Lower Salem | Marietta Wwtp | Apr 18 | Oct 27 | 191 |
| Martins Ferry | Yorkville, Adena, Connorville, Dillonvale, New Athens, Mount Pleasant, +1 more | Pike Island(lock & Dam) | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 196 |
| McConnelsville | Malta | Mc Connellsville Lk 7 | Apr 27 | Oct 21 | 176 |
| Middletown | Monroe, Lebanon, Miamisburg, Franklin, Springboro, Germantown, +3 more | Franklin | Apr 24 | Oct 19 | 178 |
| Mount Orab | Hillsboro, Greenfield, Sardinia, Peebles, Leesburg, Seaman, +8 more | Hillsboro | Apr 24 | Oct 20 | 178 |
| New Philadelphia | East Sparta, Strasburg, Bolivar, Magnolia, Malvern, Mineral, +6 more | New Philadelphia Fld | Apr 26 | Oct 21 | 176 |
| Newcomerstown | Stone Creek, Fresno | Coshocton Ag Rsch Stn | Apr 18 | Oct 28 | 190 |
| Newport | Ellenboro, St. Marys, Graysville, Cairo, Belmont, Matamoras (New Matamoras), +1 more | Newport | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | 185 |
| North Kingsville | Ashtabula, Geneva, Kingsville | Ashtabula Co Ap | May 2 | Oct 21 | 171 |
| Oberlin | Kipton | Oberlin | Apr 27 | Oct 22 | 178 |
| Painesville | Madison, Perry | Painesville 4 Nw | Apr 15 | Nov 9 | 209 |
| Radnor | — | Marion 2 N | Apr 25 | Oct 20 | 178 |
| Rio Grande | Oak Hill, Centerville (Thurman) | Waterloo | Apr 30 | Oct 15 | 167 |
| Rockbridge | — | Lancaster | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 183 |
| Sandusky | Port Clinton, Castalia, Lakeside, Whites Landing | Sandusky | Apr 10 | Nov 5 | 209 |
| Sharon Center | — | Chippewa Lake | Apr 29 | Oct 19 | 172 |
| South Amherst | — | Elyria Lorain Co Ap | Apr 24 | Oct 24 | 182 |
| Strongsville | North Royalton, Parma, Brecksville, Brunswick, North Olmsted, Middleburg Heights, +3 more | Cleveland | Apr 20 | Nov 3 | 198 |
| Toledo | Oregon, Northwood, Walbridge, Stony Ridge, Genoa, Clay Center, +4 more | Toledo Metcalf Fld | Apr 20 | Oct 27 | 188 |
| Toledo | Maumee, Lambertville, Sylvania, Waterville, Whitehouse, Holland | Toledo Express Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Vermilion | Huron, Berlin Heights, Milan, Wakeman | Norwalk Wwtp | Apr 25 | Oct 25 | 183 |
| Wadsworth | Doylestown | Wooster Wayne Co Ap | Apr 29 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Washington Court House | New Holland, Bloomingburg | Washington Court House | Apr 23 | Oct 21 | 181 |
| Wellsville | Irondale, New Cumberland | New Cumberland L/d | Apr 22 | Oct 28 | 186 |
| Wilmington | Sabina, Bowersville, Milledgeville | Wilmington 3 N | Apr 20 | Oct 20 | 180 |
| Woodsfield | Clarington, Hannibal, Reader, Paden, Lewisville, Beallsville, +1 more | Hannibal Locks & Dam | Apr 26 | Oct 26 | 182 |
| Xenia | Bellbrook, Wilberforce, Jamestown, Harveysburg, Corwin, Spring Valley | Xenia 6 Sse | Apr 18 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Zanesville | Norwich | Zanesville Muni Ap | Apr 26 | Oct 19 | 177 |
* Columbus 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 (Columbus, representative)
Computed from Columbus's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Ohiozone 6b 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 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 29 – May 6 | Jun 28 – Jul 18 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 13 | Jul 5 – Aug 4 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Mar 25 – Apr 1 | Apr 29 – May 6 | Jun 18 – Jul 8 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | Apr 29 – May 6 | Jun 13 – Jun 28 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | Apr 29 – May 6 | Jun 18 – Jun 28 | Aug 24 – Sep 3 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 21 – Jul 21 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 29 – May 6 | May 29 – Jun 13 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 9 – May 24 | Aug 10 – Aug 25 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 5 – May 20 | Jul 31 – Aug 15 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 20 – Apr 30 | Aug 20 – Aug 30 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Apr 1 – Apr 8 | May 31 – Jun 20 | Jul 21 – Aug 10 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 19 – Jun 8 | Jul 26 – Aug 15 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Columbus's own 183-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 (Columbus)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USW00004804. 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 3 | May 20 | Oct 12 | Oct 24 | 162 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 22 | May 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 | 183 |
| 28°F | Apr 9 | Apr 26 | Nov 2 | Nov 15 | 206 |
| 24°F | Mar 30 | Apr 13 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 | 230 |
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 77 locations is 3,283; Columbus's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 3,370 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 5,697 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 6b in Ohio
Zone 6b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about −5 to 0 °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, 6a, 7a.
Explore zone 6b in other states at zone 6b, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 6b mean in Ohio?
- Zone 6b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of −5 to 0 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 77 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 6b is the growing season longest?
- Cleveland runs the longest season on this page at about 217 days; Conneaut is shortest at about 160 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 6b?
- Using Columbus's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Feb 25 – Mar 11, then transplant outside about Apr 29 – May 6. 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 6b 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 77 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.