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

Planting zone for Lima, OH

Lima, OH is in USDA zones 6a to 6b across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 24.

Lima on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zones6a–6b−10 to 0 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 24
Growing season182 days

6a 5 ZIPs   6b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

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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 Lima, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Lima Wwtp, OH, elevation 850 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 Lima

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 45805 came on Mar 12 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 6a in Ohio

565 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Ohio, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

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 202

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 164

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 8

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Lima, OH.

Soil in Lima, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 45805 is Blount — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Blount silt loam, end moraine, 0 to 2 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 45805; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lima, OH

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights121nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,203base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year; 22 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 21 °F 37°21° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 33 °F 50°33° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.83 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 2.8❄6 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 2.5❄5 FebMarch: 3.02 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 3.0❄3 MarApril: 3.97 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 AprMay: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 3.14 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.1 NovDecember: 2.72 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 2.7❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lima Wwtp, OH (2 mi away); precipitation: Lima Wwtp, OH (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lima

458016a
−10 to −5 °F
458026b
−5 to 0 °F
458046a
−10 to −5 °F
458056a
−10 to −5 °F
458066a
−10 to −5 °F
458076a
−10 to −5 °F

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about Lima

What planting zone is Lima, OH?

Lima, OH is in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Lima, OH?

The median last spring frost is April 24 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lima Wwtp station).

When can I plant a garden in Lima, OH?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 13 – Apr 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 1, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lima, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Lima, OH get?

About 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).