Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 43002 (Columbus, OH)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Columbus Ohio State Univ AP, OH (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)183 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
59°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Molly Caren #1 (16 mi).
4-inch depth
60°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 57°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Molly Caren #1 (16 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 43002 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 60°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 23: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 3 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 22 | Oct 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 9 | Nov 2 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 43002
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 23). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 1–22 (transplant) Mar 25–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 22 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–29 (transplant) Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 18–Apr 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 13–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 29–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 11–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Columbus Ohio State Univ AP, OH (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00004804), elevation 905 ft, 5.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Wcmh, OH | 8 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 24 |
| Marysville, OH | 11 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Westerville, OH | 13 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 3 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 43002
When is the last frost in 43002?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 43002 is April 22. For a more cautious planting date, use May 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 43002?
The average first fall freeze is October 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 9.
What hardiness zone is 43002?
ZIP 43002 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 43002 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
43026 Hilliard 43016 Dublin 43017 Dublin 43235 Columbus 43220 Upper Arlington 43221 Upper Arlington 43228 Columbus 43064 Plain City
Other ZIP codes in Franklin County
43004 43016 43017 43026 43054 43068 43081 43085 43109 43119 43123 43125 43126 43201 43202 43203 43204 43205 43206 43207 43209 43210 43211 43212 All Franklin County frost dates · Ohio frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.