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Last and first frost dates in Cleveland

United States

In Cleveland the last spring frost usually comes around 9 April and the first autumn frost around 21 November, which leaves about 226 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 14 May to 1 August.

Last spring frostaround 9 April
First autumn frostaround 21 November
Frost-free days226 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 7a

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Cleveland?

The last frost in Cleveland usually comes around 9 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 19 March, while corn waits until 25 April. The first autumn frost follows around 21 November, about 226 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha14 February – 13 August26 March – 22 September16 April – 22 September
Ageratumfrom 26 February—from 14 May
Arugula——sow 19 March – 17 October
Basil30 March – 19 September7 May – 27 October28 May – 27 October
Beet——sow 19 March – 22 September
Bell Pepper8 March – 2 June7 May – 1 August28 May – 1 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 23 January—from 16 April
Bok Choy19 February – 30 September26 March – 4 November16 April – 4 November
Borage——sow 16 April – 27 September
Broad bean——sow 19 March – 13 August
Broccoli——sow 19 March – 6 August
Brussels Sprouts12 January – 4 July26 February – 18 August19 March – 18 August
Busy Lizziefrom 22 January—from 16 April
Cabbage——sow 19 March – 14 July
Calendula——sow from 19 March
Carrot——sow 19 March – 29 August
Cauliflower15 January – 6 August26 February – 17 September19 March – 17 September
Celeriac8 January – 3 June26 March – 19 August16 April – 19 August
Celery8 January – 13 June26 March – 29 August16 April – 29 August
Celosiafrom 15 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Chamomile——sow 19 March – 17 September
Chayote6 January – 27 May4 April – 23 August25 April – 23 August
Chickpea——sow 19 March – 3 August
Chicory1 February – 28 August—19 March – 22 September
Chili Pepper8 March – 9 July7 May – 7 September28 May – 7 September
China asterfrom 16 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Chives——sow 19 March – 8 September
Cilantro——sow 19 March – 18 September
Corn——sow 25 April – 3 August
Corn poppy——sow from 19 March
Cosmosfrom 15 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Cucumber9 April – 9 August7 May – 6 September28 May – 6 September
Daikon——sow 19 March – 15 September
Delphiniumfrom 29 December—from 19 March
Dill——sow 19 March – 28 September
Edging lobeliafrom 22 January—from 16 April
Eggplant8 March – 2 June7 May – 1 August28 May – 1 August
Florence fennel9 February – 13 August26 March – 27 September16 April – 27 September
Foxglovefrom 11 December—from 19 March
Garden sorrel——sow 19 March – 16 September
Green Beans——sow 20 May – 11 August
Hollyhock——sow from 19 March
Hyssop——sow 19 March – 9 August
Kale——sow 19 March – 10 September
Kiwano22 March – 16 August23 April – 17 September14 May – 17 September
Kohlrabi——sow 19 March – 20 September
Leek18 December – 25 May26 February – 3 August19 March – 3 August
Lemon balm——sow 19 March – 12 September
Lettuce——sow 19 March – 25 September
Lisianthusfrom 1 Decemberfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Lovage——sow from 19 March
Luffa26 March – 10 June7 May – 22 July28 May – 22 July
Marigoldfrom 12 Februaryfrom 26 Marchfrom 16 April
Marjoram8 March – 28 August—28 May – 27 October
Melon9 April – 27 July7 May – 24 August28 May – 24 August
Microgreens——sow 20 May – 7 November
Moringa18 March – 2 September12 May – 27 October2 June – 27 October
Moss rosefrom 29 January—from 16 April
Mustard greens——sow 19 March – 7 October
Napa cabbage21 February – 7 September26 March – 10 October16 April – 10 October
Nasturtiumfrom 16 Februaryfrom 26 Marchfrom 16 April
Okra26 March – 21 August7 May – 2 October28 May – 2 October
Oregano28 December – 18 August26 February – 17 October19 March – 17 October
Pansyfrom 1 Januaryfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Parsley——sow 19 March – 6 September
Parsnip——sow 19 March – 26 July
Peanut31 March – 17 July7 May – 23 August28 May – 23 August
Peas——sow 19 March – 8 September
Petuniafrom 5 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Physalis9 March – 14 July23 April – 28 August14 May – 28 August
Pumpkin26 March – 15 June7 May – 27 July28 May – 27 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 26 December—from 19 March
Radish——sow 19 March – 22 October
Sage8 January – 14 August26 February – 2 October19 March – 2 October
Scarlet sagefrom 2 March—from 14 May
Snapdragonfrom 23 Decemberfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Soybean——sow 28 May – 2 September
Spinach——sow 19 March – 27 September
Stevia5 March – 5 July23 April – 23 August14 May – 23 August
Stock——sow from 19 March
Sunflower——sow from 20 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 19 March
Sweet Corn24 March – 28 August15 April – 19 September6 May – 19 September
Sweet peafrom 15 Januaryfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Sweet William——sow from 19 March
Swiss Chard——sow 19 March – 22 September
Thyme——sow 19 March – 3 August
Tomato2 March – 10 June23 April – 1 August14 May – 1 August
Turnip——sow 19 March – 24 September
Watercress——sow 19 March – 5 October
Watermelon9 April – 15 July7 May – 12 August28 May – 12 August
Zinniafrom 7 Aprilfrom 12 Mayfrom 2 June
Zucchini16 April – 14 August7 May – 4 September28 May – 4 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Cleveland?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Cleveland (ZIP 44113) in zone 7a. Zone 7a stands for an average coldest night of 0 to 5 °F (-17.8 to -15 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 7a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Cleveland: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Cleveland

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 6 days after the last spring frost and 15 °C 35 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C12 March28 days earlier
10 °C15 April6 days later
15 °C14 May35 days later
18 °C28 May49 days later

Frost dates near Cleveland

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Erie (10 April) and latest in London (Canada) (28 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Windsor141 km24 April7 November
Detroit145 km24 April7 November
Erie151 km10 April19 November
Toledo (United States)154 km22 April7 November
London (Canada)169 km28 April7 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Cleveland

Within 15 km of Cleveland OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres and 8 markets (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Lakewood Garden Center, 7 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Cleveland

Frosts in Cleveland usually come from about 21 November to about 9 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Cleveland by month

Average weather in Cleveland over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: June–September (23.2–26.6 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-3.9 °C), February (-2.9 °C) and December (-0.7 °C). About 1165 mm of rain falls in a year, on 161 days; July is the wettest month (124 mm) and September the driest (77 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January2.1-3.99115
February4.4-2.98113
March8.10.49214
April12.94.910815
May1911.410913
June24.417.210613
July26.620.212414
August25.719.69513
September23.216.77710
October17.61110413
November10.14.18813
December4.8-0.79015

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 22 October
Crocus22 October – 23 December
Daffodil22 October – 23 December
Garlic22 October – 23 December
Grape hyacinthby 22 October
Helleboreby 22 October
Hyacinth22 October – 23 December
Lilyby 22 October
Ornamental onionby 22 October
Peonyby 22 October
Saffronby 22 October
Snowdropby 22 October
Tulip22 October – 23 December
Wild garlicby 22 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).