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

Planting zone for Lockbourne, OH

Lockbourne, OH is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 19.

Lockbourne 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 frostApr 23
First frostOct 19
Growing season177 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lockbourne, 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 Lockbourne, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Columbus-Valley Crossing, OH, elevation 761 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 Lockbourne

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 43194 came on Mar 10 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23).

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 Lockbourne, OH.

Soil in Lockbourne, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43194 is Eldean — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eldean silt loam, 2 to 6 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 43194; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lockbourne, OH

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,529base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbus-Valley Crossing, OH (7 mi away); precipitation: Columbus-Parsons Ave, OH (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lockbourne

431376b
−5 to 0 °F
431946b
−5 to 0 °F

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about Lockbourne

What planting zone is Lockbourne, OH?

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

When is the last frost in Lockbourne, OH?

The median last spring frost is April 23 and the median first fall frost is October 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus-Valley Crossing station).

When can I plant a garden in Lockbourne, OH?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 12 – Apr 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lockbourne, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 15 h 00 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Lockbourne, OH get?

About 41.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).