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Cleveland, OH Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 7a · ZIP 44102 · elevation 233′ · NOAA & USDA data

Cleveland is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (winters can dip to 0 to 5°F), with a growing season of about 217 days between the average last spring frost (April 8) and first fall frost (November 12). The warmest month is July (avg high 83.7°F); the coldest is January (avg low 22.3°F). It averages 41″ of precipitation a year and 63.8″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
7a
min temp 0 to 5°F
Last spring frost
April 8
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
November 12
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
217 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 83.7°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Cleveland

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Cleveland, OH (7.9 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 35.8 22.3 29.1 3 18.4
February 38.5 23.7 31.1 2.5 15.1
March 47.1 30.7 38.9 3.1 10.8
April 60.1 40.8 50.4 3.8 2.7
May 71.1 51.4 61.2 3.8 0
June 79.8 61.1 70.4 3.8 0
July 83.7 65.3 74.5 3.7 0
August 82 63.9 73 3.6 0
September 75.6 57.1 66.4 3.9 0
October 63.7 46.5 55.1 3.6 0.1
November 51.3 36.7 44 3.4 4.5
December 40.4 28.2 34.3 3 12.2

What to plant when in Cleveland

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: February 25 · Transplant out: April 15
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: February 11 · Transplant out: April 22
CucumberswarmDirect sow: April 15
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: April 15
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: April 15
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: April 15
BasilwarmTransplant out: April 15
PeascoolSow (spring): March 4 · Sow (fall): September 17
SpinachcoolSow (spring): February 25 · Sow (fall): September 17
LettucecoolSow (spring): March 11 · Sow (fall): September 17
KalecoolTransplant (spring): March 18 · Sow (fall): September 3
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): March 25
CarrotscoolSow (spring): March 18 · Sow (fall): September 3
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): March 11
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: March 25
RadishescoolSow (spring): March 11 · Sow (fall): October 1

Dates are computed from Cleveland's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Ohio

Lakewood, OHEuclid, OHStrongsville, OHElyria, OHLorain, OHMentor, OHCuyahoga Falls, OHAkron, OH

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Cleveland Burke Ap, OH, 3.8 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Cleveland, OH, 7.9 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.