When to plant watermelon in Ohio

Watermelon
Plant out in Columbus
May 4–May 18

Across Ohio the window opens between April 22 and May 22. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Columbus
Mar 23–Mar 30
Plant out, Columbus
May 4–May 18
Sow outdoors, Columbus
May 4–May 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 2
Last frost, Columbus
Apr 20

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ColumbusMay 4–May 18
ClevelandApr 22–May 6
CincinnatiApr 30–May 14
ToledoMay 4–May 18
AkronMay 8–May 22
DaytonMay 2–May 16
ParmaMay 4–May 18
CantonMay 8–May 22
LorainMay 8–May 22
HamiltonMay 6–May 20
YoungstownMay 15–May 29
SpringfieldMay 9–May 23
KetteringMay 2–May 16
ElyriaMay 6–May 20
MiddletownMay 8–May 22
NewarkMay 13–May 27
Cuyahoga FallsMay 14–May 28
DublinMay 6–May 20
LakewoodMay 4–May 18
BeavercreekMay 2–May 16
EuclidApr 22–May 6
MansfieldMay 10–May 24
MentorApr 29–May 13
DelawareMay 3–May 17
StrongsvilleMay 4–May 18
Grove CityMay 7–May 21
FairfieldMay 6–May 20
Huber HeightsApr 30–May 14
Cleveland HeightsApr 22–May 6
ReynoldsburgMay 2–May 16
All 87 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
ColumbusMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
ClevelandMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
CincinnatiMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
ToledoMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
AkronMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
DaytonMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
ParmaMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
CantonMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
LorainMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
HamiltonMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
YoungstownApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
SpringfieldMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
KetteringMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
ElyriaMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
MiddletownMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
NewarkApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Cuyahoga FallsApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
DublinMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
LakewoodMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
BeavercreekMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
EuclidMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
MansfieldMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
MentorMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
DelawareMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
StrongsvilleMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Grove CityMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
FairfieldMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
Huber HeightsMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
Cleveland HeightsMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
ReynoldsburgMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
LancasterMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
FindlayMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
HilliardMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
WarrenApr 10 to Apr 17May 22 to Jun 5May 22 to Jun 5May 8
WestervilleMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
North RidgevilleMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
GahannaMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
Upper ArlingtonMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
MasonMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
FairbornMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
MarionMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
BrunswickMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
LimaMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
StowApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
WestlakeMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
MassillonMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
North OlmstedMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Bowling GreenMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
North RoyaltonMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
AustintownApr 10 to Apr 17May 22 to Jun 5May 22 to Jun 5May 8
MarysvilleMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
Garfield HeightsMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
Shaker HeightsMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
KentMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
GreenMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
TroyMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
WoosterApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Avon LakeMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
XeniaMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
PickeringtonMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23
MedinaApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
AvonMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
PerrysburgMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22
AthensMar 28 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23Apr 25
CentervilleMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
ZanesvilleMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
BarbertonMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
WadsworthApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
RiversideMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
WilloughbyMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
SanduskyMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
SolonMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
TrotwoodMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
HudsonApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Maple HeightsMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
OxfordMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
LebanonMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
ChillicotheMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
AllianceMar 27 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22Apr 24
Rocky RiverMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
South EuclidMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
PiquaMar 21 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 18
PainesvilleMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
MiamisburgMar 20 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 17
Parma HeightsMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
SidneyMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
Forest ParkMar 25 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 22

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Ohio?

In Columbus, plant out from May 4 to May 18. Across Ohio the window opens between April 22 and May 22, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Ohio

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Ohio