Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati, OH is in USDA zone 6b across its 70 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost October 26.

Cincinnati on the zone map

Outlined: its 46 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes70
Last frostApr 17
First frostOct 26
Growing season191 days

6b 70 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Cincinnati, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season191 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Cheviot, OH, elevation 892 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Cincinnati

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Oct 26) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 45217 came on Mar 8 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6b in Ohio

570 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Ohio, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 71

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 109

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 203

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 165

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Cincinnati, OH.

Soil in Cincinnati, OH

The center of ZIP 45217 is mapped as Urban land-Udorthents complex, 0 to 12 percent slopes: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 45217; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cincinnati, OH

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights102nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,763base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 FebMarch: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cincinnati Lunken Airport, OH (6 mi away); precipitation: Cincinnati Lunken Airport, OH (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Cincinnati

452016b
−5 to 0 °F
452026b
−5 to 0 °F
452036b
−5 to 0 °F
452046b
−5 to 0 °F
452056b
−5 to 0 °F
452066b
−5 to 0 °F
452076b
−5 to 0 °F
452086b
−5 to 0 °F
452096b
−5 to 0 °F
452116b
−5 to 0 °F
452126b
−5 to 0 °F
452136b
−5 to 0 °F
452146b
−5 to 0 °F
452156b
−5 to 0 °F
452166b
−5 to 0 °F
452176b
−5 to 0 °F
452186b
−5 to 0 °F
452196b
−5 to 0 °F
452206b
−5 to 0 °F
452216b
−5 to 0 °F
452226b
−5 to 0 °F
452236b
−5 to 0 °F
452246b
−5 to 0 °F
452256b
−5 to 0 °F
452266b
−5 to 0 °F
452276b
−5 to 0 °F
452296b
−5 to 0 °F
452306b
−5 to 0 °F
452316b
−5 to 0 °F
452326b
−5 to 0 °F
452336b
−5 to 0 °F
452346b
−5 to 0 °F
452356b
−5 to 0 °F
452366b
−5 to 0 °F
452376b
−5 to 0 °F
452386b
−5 to 0 °F
452396b
−5 to 0 °F
452406b
−5 to 0 °F
452416b
−5 to 0 °F
452426b
−5 to 0 °F
452436b
−5 to 0 °F
452446b
−5 to 0 °F
452456b
−5 to 0 °F
452466b
−5 to 0 °F
452476b
−5 to 0 °F
452486b
−5 to 0 °F
452496b
−5 to 0 °F
452506b
−5 to 0 °F
452516b
−5 to 0 °F
452526b
−5 to 0 °F
452536b
−5 to 0 °F
452546b
−5 to 0 °F
452556b
−5 to 0 °F
452586b
−5 to 0 °F
452626b
−5 to 0 °F
452636b
−5 to 0 °F
452646b
−5 to 0 °F
452676b
−5 to 0 °F
452686b
−5 to 0 °F
452696b
−5 to 0 °F
452706b
−5 to 0 °F
452716b
−5 to 0 °F
452736b
−5 to 0 °F
452746b
−5 to 0 °F
452776b
−5 to 0 °F
452806b
−5 to 0 °F
452966b
−5 to 0 °F
452986b
−5 to 0 °F
452996b
−5 to 0 °F
459996b
−5 to 0 °F

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about Cincinnati

What planting zone is Cincinnati, OH?

Cincinnati, OH is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Cincinnati, OH?

The median last spring frost is April 17 and the median first fall frost is October 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cheviot station).

When can I plant a garden in Cincinnati, OH?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 6 – Mar 27; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 24, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Cincinnati, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Cincinnati, OH get?

About 43.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).