Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Ashtabula, OH

Ashtabula, OH is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 21.

Ashtabula on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 21
Growing season171 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ashtabula, OH…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Ashtabula, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Ashtabula Co. Airport, OH, elevation 925 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Ashtabula

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 21) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 44005 came on Mar 14 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6b in Ohio

570 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Ohio, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 71

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 109

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 203

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 165

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Ashtabula, OH.

Soil in Ashtabula, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44005 is Elnora — loamy fine sand, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.4strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Elnora complex, 1 to 5 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 44005; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ashtabula, OH

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights124nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,608base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 26 °F 38°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 FebMarch: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 MarApril: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 2.32 in precipitation 2.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ashtabula Co. Airport, OH (7 mi away); precipitation: Ashtabula Co. Airport, OH (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Ashtabula

440046b
−5 to 0 °F
440056b
−5 to 0 °F

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about Ashtabula

What planting zone is Ashtabula, OH?

Ashtabula, OH is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Ashtabula, OH?

The median last spring frost is May 2 and the median first fall frost is October 21 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ashtabula Co. Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Ashtabula, OH?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 21 – Apr 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 9, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Ashtabula, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Ashtabula, OH get?

About 37.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).