When to plant basil in Ohio

Plant out in Columbus

Apr 27–May 11

Across Ohio the window opens between April 15 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Columbus: Mar 9–Mar 23
Plant out, Columbus: Apr 27–May 11
Sow outdoors, Columbus: Apr 27–May 11
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 27
Last frost, Columbus: Apr 20

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ColumbusApr 27–May 11

ClevelandApr 15–Apr 29

CincinnatiApr 23–May 7

ToledoApr 27–May 11

AkronMay 1–May 15

DaytonApr 25–May 9

ParmaApr 27–May 11

CantonMay 1–May 15

LorainMay 1–May 15

HamiltonApr 29–May 13

YoungstownMay 8–May 22

SpringfieldMay 2–May 16

KetteringApr 25–May 9

ElyriaApr 29–May 13

MiddletownMay 1–May 15

NewarkMay 6–May 20

Cuyahoga FallsMay 7–May 21

DublinApr 29–May 13

LakewoodApr 27–May 11

BeavercreekApr 25–May 9

EuclidApr 15–Apr 29

MansfieldMay 3–May 17

MentorApr 22–May 6

DelawareApr 26–May 10

StrongsvilleApr 27–May 11

Grove CityApr 30–May 14

FairfieldApr 29–May 13

Huber HeightsApr 23–May 7

Cleveland HeightsApr 15–Apr 29

ReynoldsburgApr 25–May 9

All 87 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Sow outdoors	Last frost
Columbus	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Cleveland	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Cincinnati	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Toledo	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Akron	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Dayton	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Parma	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Canton	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Lorain	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Hamilton	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Youngstown	Mar 20 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Springfield	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Kettering	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Elyria	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Middletown	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Newark	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Cuyahoga Falls	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Dublin	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Lakewood	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Beavercreek	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Euclid	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Mansfield	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Mentor	Mar 4 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Delaware	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Strongsville	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Grove City	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Fairfield	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Huber Heights	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Cleveland Heights	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Reynoldsburg	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Lancaster	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Findlay	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Hilliard	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Warren	Mar 27 to Apr 10	May 15 to May 29	May 15 to May 29	May 8
Westerville	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
North Ridgeville	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Gahanna	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Upper Arlington	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Mason	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Fairborn	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Marion	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Brunswick	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Lima	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Stow	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Westlake	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Massillon	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
North Olmsted	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Bowling Green	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
North Royalton	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Austintown	Mar 27 to Apr 10	May 15 to May 29	May 15 to May 29	May 8
Marysville	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Garfield Heights	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Shaker Heights	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Kent	Mar 10 to Mar 24	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 21
Green	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Troy	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Wooster	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Avon Lake	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Xenia	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Pickerington	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Medina	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Avon	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Perrysburg	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Athens	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Centerville	Mar 6 to Mar 20	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 17
Zanesville	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Barberton	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Wadsworth	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Riverside	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Willoughby	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Sandusky	Feb 27 to Mar 13	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 10
Solon	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Trotwood	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Hudson	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Maple Heights	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Oxford	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Lebanon	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Chillicothe	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Alliance	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Rocky River	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
South Euclid	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Piqua	Mar 7 to Mar 21	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 18
Painesville	Mar 4 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Miamisburg	Mar 6 to Mar 20	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 24 to May 8	Apr 17
Parma Heights	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Sidney	Mar 16 to Mar 30	May 4 to May 18	May 4 to May 18	Apr 27
Forest Park	Mar 11 to Mar 25	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22

Questions

When should I plant basil in Ohio?

In Columbus, plant out from April 27 to May 11. Across Ohio the window opens between April 15 and May 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Ohio

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Ohio