When to plant lavender in Cincinnati, Ohio

April 16 – April 30

Transplant outdoors · typical Cincinnati year

Climate basis: NOAA station Cincinnati Lunken AP, OH (USW00093812), 5 mi (7 km) from downtown Cincinnati (ZCTA 45202 centroid), elevation 490 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant lavender outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 16). One year in ten still freezes after May 3.

Last spring freezeApril 161-in-10 after May 3
First fall freezeOctober 251-in-10 before Oct 12
Frost-free season190 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 2Nov 4kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6b-5 to 0°F winter low not frost timing

The Cincinnati year

Transplant outdoorsApr 16 – Apr 30
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 3
Lavender in Cincinnati · freeze context from Cincinnati Lunken AP, OH, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Apr 16 – Apr 30

Utah State University Extension instructs transplanting after the last spring frost, a point rule encoded per policy as a 14-day span opening at the last-frost date; no reconciliation was needed because this is the entry's only source. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 16). Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Utah State University Extension advises against direct seeding, stating that the germination rate is low and that seeding to transplanting takes between 100 and 200 days.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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