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Frost dates and planting calendar for Toledo, Ohio

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
6b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 22[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 24[3]
Growing season, median
188 days[4]

Toledo, Ohio is in USDA hardiness zone 6b at the city center[1]. NOAA records put the median last spring frost at April 22[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 6, half of years Apr 22, 1 in 10 years after May 7Last frostmedian Apr 22First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 8, half of years Oct 24, 1 in 10 years before Oct 11First frostmedian Oct 24Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 22around Apr 22Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 6from May 6
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates are odds from NOAA records for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast. They come from the Toledo Express Airport weather station[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 22, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 24, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 11[3]. Any year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 6 after April 22 after May 7
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 11 before October 24 before November 8
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 8, median first fall date November 4[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years, 188 days in half of years and 206 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Toledo Express Airport (USW00094830), 12.5 miles from the city center, 669 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which is March 25 to April 8[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is April 8[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn are sown from seed around the median last frost date, April 22[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, and the earliest start is May 6[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 22) is March 25 to April 8[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 22) is April 8, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 22[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 22), is May 6[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 29 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 25 Jun 18 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 14
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 24
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 25 Jul 13
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 29
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 25 Apr 24
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 4
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 14
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 8 Jun 7
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 8 Jun 17
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 8 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 8 Jun 17
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 8 Aug 11
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 8 Jun 7
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 22 Jun 21
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 22 Jun 21
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 22 Jun 16
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 22 Jun 11
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 6 Jul 30
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 6 Jul 5 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 6 Jul 15 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 6 Jul 10 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 6 Aug 14
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 6 Jul 30
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Toledo in zone 6b, which means an average coldest night of -5°F to 0°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on the coldest winter night, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Toledo overlaps 15 ZIP code areas, and 100% of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b[15].

Zone 6b: average annual extreme minimum temperature -5°F to 0°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -3.2°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 6b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 6b and what zone 6b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
43612[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43615[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43614[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43607[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43605[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43611[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43613[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43606[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43609[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43623[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43608[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43604[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43610[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43620[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
43537[15] 6b -5 to 0°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Toledo, Ohio?
The center of Toledo is in USDA zone 6b on the 2023 map[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 6b[15].
When is the last frost in Toledo?
The median last spring frost is April 22[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last frost comes after May 7[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Toledo?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is May 6[11].
When is the first frost in Toledo?
The median first fall frost is October 24[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 11[3].
How long is the growing season in Toledo?
The growing season is at least 188 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Toledo, Ohio in zone 6b. Zone 6b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -5°F to 0°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 3.2°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 6, in half of years after April 22, and in 1 of 10 years after May 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 22. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 11, in half of years before October 24, and in 9 of 10 years before November 8 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 24. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 168 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 188 days in half of years, and at least 206 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Toledo Express Airport weather station (USW00094830), 12.5 miles from the center of Toledo at 669 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 8 and the median first fall date is November 4. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Toledo, Ohio overlaps 15 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.