Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Mentor, OH

The average first fall frost in Mentor, OH is October 31, and the average last spring frost is April 26, giving a growing season of about 184 days.

Plan your garden around Mentor, OH's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

April 26

Safe May 14 Typical Apr 26 Risky Apr 11

First Fall Frost

October 31

Safe Oct 15 Typical Oct 31 Risky Nov 13

Growing Season

184 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 7a

Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.

Data: NOAA station KIRTLAND-HOLDEN 2, OH US, 6.4 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Mentor Compares

Mentor's typical last spring frost (Apr 26) comes later than in 79% of the 203 Ohio cities we track.
Its 184-day growing season is about the same as the Ohio median of 186 days.
Compared with Euclid (18 km away), Mentor's last spring frost comes 18 days later than Euclid's, and its first fall frost arrives 12 days earlier.
July is the warmest month (average high 82°F) and January the coldest (average low 19°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Mar 1 – Mar 15	—	May 3 – May 10	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Feb 15 – Mar 1	—	May 3 – May 17	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Feb 15 – Mar 1	—	May 10 – May 17	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Mar 29 – Apr 5	May 3 – May 10	May 3 – May 10	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Apr 5 – Apr 12	May 3 – May 17	May 3 – May 10	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Mar 29 – Apr 5	May 3 – May 17	May 3 – May 10	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	May 3 – May 17	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Mar 29 – Apr 5	—	May 10 – May 17	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Mar 29 – Apr 5	—	May 10 – May 17	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Apr 26 – May 10	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Apr 26 – May 10	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 15 – Mar 29	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Sep 5 – Sep 19	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 15 – Mar 29	—	Sep 5 – Sep 19	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Aug 22 – Sep 5	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Sep 19 – Sep 26	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	Apr 5 – Apr 12	Aug 29 – Sep 5	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	Apr 12 – Apr 19	Aug 22 – Aug 29	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	Aug 22 – Sep 5	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Aug 8 – Aug 22	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Aug 22 – Sep 5	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Mar 22 – Apr 5	—	Sep 19 – Oct 3	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Aug 22 – Sep 5	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 15 – Mar 1	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Oct 3 – Oct 17	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	May 10 – May 24	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 15 – Mar 22	—	May 3 – May 10	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	Sep 5 – Sep 19	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Mar 1 – Mar 15	—	Apr 12 – Apr 19	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Mar 1 – Mar 15	—	Apr 26 – May 3	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Mar 1 – Mar 15	—	Apr 26 – May 3	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	May 3 – May 17	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Mar 29 – Apr 5	May 3 – May 17	May 3 – May 10	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Mar 15 – Mar 29	—	May 3 – May 10	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Mar 29 – Apr 5	May 3 – May 17	May 3 – May 10	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	May 3 – May 17	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	May 3 – May 17	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Mentor, OH?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the KIRTLAND-HOLDEN 2, OH US station, the last spring frost in Mentor typically falls around April 26. A cautious gardener might wait until May 14 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 11 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Mentor, OH in fall?

The first fall frost in Mentor typically arrives around October 31. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 15; in milder years it can hold off until November 13.

How long is the growing season in Mentor, OH?

Mentor's average frost-free growing season is about 184 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 26) to the typical first fall frost (October 31).

What USDA hardiness zone is Mentor, OH in?

Mentor, OH is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.