Frost dates for Defiance, OH
At Defiance, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 24, for a typical growing season of 183 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 8. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- Apr 22Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 8Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 24First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 183 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 19 | May 2 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 10 | Apr 22 | May 8 |
| 28°F | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 15 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
| 24°F | Nov 3 | Nov 16 | Dec 4 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 142 days | 161 days | 181 days |
| 32°F | 162 days | 183 days | 202 days |
| 28°F | 187 days | 207 days | 226 days |
| 24°F | 212 days | 230 days | 251 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43512 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 43530 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 10 km |
| 43548 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 20 km |
| 45831 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 21 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00332098, at 41.2783, -84.3847, elevation 213 m (700 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 127.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Defiance Mem Airport (8 km)
- Napoleon 1sw (23 km)
- Bryan 2 SE (24 km)
- Paulding (24 km)
- Napoleon (26 km)
- Hicksville (31 km)
- Wauseon Water Plant (33 km)
- Montpelier (40 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.