When to plant daffodil bulbs in Ohio

Fall planting in Columbus

Sep 26–Nov 7

Across Ohio the window opens between September 14 and October 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Columbus: Sep 26–Nov 7
Last frost, Columbus: Apr 20

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Daffodils root best when they go in a few weeks before the ground freezes. Deer and rodents leave them alone.

Daffodil bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ColumbusSep 26–Nov 7

ClevelandOct 15–Nov 26

CincinnatiSep 27–Nov 8

ToledoSep 29–Nov 10

AkronSep 30–Nov 11

DaytonSep 27–Nov 8

ParmaOct 6–Nov 17

CantonSep 28–Nov 9

LorainSep 26–Nov 7

HamiltonSep 20–Nov 1

YoungstownSep 19–Oct 31

SpringfieldSep 21–Nov 2

KetteringSep 27–Nov 8

ElyriaOct 4–Nov 15

MiddletownSep 21–Nov 2

NewarkSep 18–Oct 30

Cuyahoga FallsSep 23–Nov 4

DublinSep 25–Nov 6

LakewoodOct 6–Nov 17

BeavercreekSep 27–Nov 8

EuclidOct 15–Nov 26

MansfieldSep 24–Nov 5

MentorOct 12–Nov 23

DelawareSep 28–Nov 9

StrongsvilleOct 6–Nov 17

Grove CitySep 21–Nov 2

FairfieldSep 20–Nov 1

Huber HeightsSep 30–Nov 11

Cleveland HeightsOct 15–Nov 26

ReynoldsburgSep 29–Nov 10

All 87 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Columbus	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 20
Cleveland	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Cincinnati	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 16
Toledo	Sep 29 to Nov 10	Apr 20
Akron	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 24
Dayton	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Parma	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Canton	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 24
Lorain	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 24
Hamilton	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 22
Youngstown	Sep 19 to Oct 31	May 1
Springfield	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 25
Kettering	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Elyria	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 22
Middletown	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 24
Newark	Sep 18 to Oct 30	Apr 29
Cuyahoga Falls	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 30
Dublin	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 22
Lakewood	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Beavercreek	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Euclid	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Mansfield	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 26
Mentor	Oct 12 to Nov 23	Apr 15
Delaware	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Strongsville	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Grove City	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 23
Fairfield	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 22
Huber Heights	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 16
Cleveland Heights	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Reynoldsburg	Sep 29 to Nov 10	Apr 18
Lancaster	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 22
Findlay	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 22
Hilliard	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 22
Warren	Sep 14 to Oct 26	May 8
Westerville	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 22
North Ridgeville	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 22
Gahanna	Sep 29 to Nov 10	Apr 18
Upper Arlington	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 20
Mason	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 22
Fairborn	Sep 19 to Oct 31	Apr 24
Marion	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 25
Brunswick	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Lima	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 24
Stow	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 30
Westlake	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Massillon	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 24
North Olmsted	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Bowling Green	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 22
North Royalton	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Austintown	Sep 14 to Oct 26	May 8
Marysville	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 19
Garfield Heights	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Shaker Heights	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Kent	Oct 1 to Nov 12	Apr 21
Green	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 24
Troy	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 18
Wooster	Sep 14 to Oct 26	Apr 30
Avon Lake	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 22
Xenia	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 18
Pickerington	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 23
Medina	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 29
Avon	Oct 4 to Nov 15	Apr 22
Perrysburg	Sep 26 to Nov 7	Apr 22
Athens	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 25
Centerville	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 17
Zanesville	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 26
Barberton	Sep 30 to Nov 11	Apr 24
Wadsworth	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 29
Riverside	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Willoughby	Oct 3 to Nov 14	Apr 26
Sandusky	Oct 8 to Nov 19	Apr 10
Solon	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Trotwood	Sep 27 to Nov 8	Apr 18
Hudson	Sep 23 to Nov 4	Apr 30
Maple Heights	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Oxford	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 19
Lebanon	Sep 21 to Nov 2	Apr 24
Chillicothe	Sep 24 to Nov 5	Apr 20
Alliance	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 24
Rocky River	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
South Euclid	Oct 15 to Nov 26	Apr 8
Piqua	Sep 25 to Nov 6	Apr 18
Painesville	Oct 12 to Nov 23	Apr 15
Miamisburg	Sep 28 to Nov 9	Apr 17
Parma Heights	Oct 6 to Nov 17	Apr 20
Sidney	Sep 22 to Nov 3	Apr 27
Forest Park	Sep 20 to Nov 1	Apr 22

Questions

When should I plant daffodil bulbs in Ohio?

In Columbus, fall planting from September 26 to November 7. Across Ohio the window opens between September 14 and October 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.