Frost Dates for Amherst, OH 44001
Last spring frost April 30 · First fall frost October 19 · 172 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6b
ZIP 44001 has about 21,400 people.
Moderate season: 172 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 17–May 12 (25 days). Fall frost risk spans October 2–November 3 (32 days).
Frost probability for 44001
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 12 | April 30 | April 17 |
| Fall (first frost) | October 2 | October 19 | November 3 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at ELYRIA 3 E (17.1 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 172-day season in Amherst
In Amherst (172 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 26 | May 14–May 21 | 130 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 130 available after May 14. | Jun 19 |
| Pepper | Mar 19 | May 14–May 21 | 130 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 130 available after May 14. | Jun 24 |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 9 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9–Apr 16 | 214 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 214 available after Apr 9. | Aug 17 |
| Cucumber | Apr 9 | May 14–May 21 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 23; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 23 |
| Beans | — | May 7–May 21 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 12. | Jul 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5–May 14 | 235 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 235 available after Mar 5. | Aug 8 |
| Zucchini | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Onion | Feb 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 207 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 2. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5–Apr 23 | 249 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 16; both mature before Nov 9. | Sep 16 |
| Kale | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Nov 9. | Sep 1 |
| Broccoli | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 207 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 2. | Jul 24 |
| Cabbage | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 221 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 221 available after Apr 2. | Aug 17 |
| Radish | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 17; both mature before Oct 26. | Sep 17 |
| Beets | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 18 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 193 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 19 | 277 | overwinter: Plant Oct 19 to Nov 9; harvest the following summer. | Nov 9 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 26–May 21 | 228 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 26; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 2 | May 7–May 14 | 144 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 144 available after May 7. | Jul 1 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 16 | May 14–May 14 | 137 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 137 available after May 14. | Jun 6 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 19 | Apr 23–May 7 | 186 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 186 available after Apr 23. | Jul 29 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 16 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 18 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 249 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Sep 16; both mature before Nov 9. | Sep 16 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 5 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 221 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 221 available after Apr 2. | Jul 18 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 137 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 137 available after May 14. | Jun 6 |
| Eggplant | Mar 12 | May 14–May 21 | 130 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 130 available after May 14. | Jun 29 |
| Okra | Apr 2 | May 7–May 14 | 151 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Basil | Mar 26 | May 21–May 21 | 137 | two-plantings: Plant May 21 and again by Jul 23; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 23 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 2–Apr 23 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 23 |
| Parsley | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 172 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 172 available after May 7. | Aug 3 |
| Celery | Feb 19 | May 7–May 21 | 172 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 172 available after May 7. | Jun 14 |
| Scallions | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Nov 9. | Aug 27 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Nov 9. | Sep 6 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 19–Apr 2 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Nov 9. | Sep 1 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 2 | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 186 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 23 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 28 |
| Collards | Feb 19 | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Nov 9. | Aug 27 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 130 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 130 available after May 14. | Jun 14 |
| Chives | Feb 5 | May 7–May 14 | 186 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 186 available after May 7. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 5–May 28 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 5 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 18 |
| Oregano | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 186 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 186 available after May 7. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 5 | May 7–May 14 | 172 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 172 available after May 7. | — |
| Sage | Mar 5 | May 7–May 14 | 186 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 186 available after May 7. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 19 | May 7–May 14 | 186 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 186 available after May 7. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 23 |
| Cosmos | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 23; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 23 |
| Lavender | Feb 5 | Apr 30–May 14 | 193 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 19 | Apr 30–May 7 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Melons | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 130 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 130 available after May 14. | Jun 14 |
| Mint | — | Apr 30–May 14 | 193 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 7 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 7–May 21 | 151 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 151 available after May 7. | Jul 18 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 137 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 137 available after May 14. | Jun 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30–May 14 | 158 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 158 available after Apr 30. | Jul 13 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 5 | May 7–May 14 | 137 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 137 available after May 7. | Jun 24 |
| Watermelon | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 137 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 137 available after May 7. | Jun 19 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Zinnias | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Jul 23; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 23 |
Month by month in Amherst
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 5), Lavender (Feb 5), Onion (Feb 5), Rosemary (Feb 5), Celery (Feb 19), Collards (Feb 19), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 5), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 5), Cabbage (Mar 5), Lettuce (Mar 5), Sage (Mar 5), Swiss Chard (Mar 5), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 5), Beets (Mar 5), Dill (Mar 5), Peas (Mar 5), Radish (Mar 5), Spinach (Mar 5), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 26). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 2), Corn (Apr 2), Cosmos (Apr 2), Nasturtiums (Apr 2), Okra (Apr 2), Zinnias (Apr 2), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 2), Turnip (Apr 2), Carrots (Apr 9), Potatoes (Apr 16), Sunflowers (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 2), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 2), Cabbage (Apr 2), Collards (Apr 2), Kale (Apr 2), Lettuce (Apr 2), +12 more. Last frost around April 30. |
| May | Direct sow from: Beans (May 7), Pole Beans (May 7). Transplant from: Celery (May 7), Chives (May 7), Corn (May 7), Okra (May 7), Oregano (May 7), Parsley (May 7), +17 more. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 6), Pumpkin (Jun 6), Cantaloupe (Jun 14), Celery (Jun 14), Melons (Jun 14), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 16), +5 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Corn (Jul 1), Sunflowers (Jul 13), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 18), Pole Beans (Jul 18), Basil (Jul 23), Cosmos (Jul 23), +9 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Marigolds (Aug 2), Parsley (Aug 3), Peas (Aug 8), Cabbage (Aug 17), Carrots (Aug 17), Beets (Aug 18), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Kale (Sep 1), Kohlrabi (Sep 1), Turnip (Sep 6), Arugula (Sep 16), Spinach (Sep 16), Radish (Sep 17). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 19). First frost around October 19. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 9). |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Amherst, OH (ZIP 44001)?
The median last spring frost date for Amherst, OH (ZIP code 44001) is around April 30. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 17; one in ten it runs past May 12.
What is the first fall frost date in Amherst, OH?
The median first fall frost date for Amherst, OH is around October 19. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around October 2 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Amherst, OH?
The frost-free growing season in Amherst is about 172 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Amherst (172 frost-free days, a moderate season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Amherst, OH?
Amherst, OH is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Amherst, OH?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 26 and plant out May 14 in Amherst. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Amherst?
Two: plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 26.
When do I plant garlic in Amherst?
Oct 19 to Nov 9; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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