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

Planting zone for Lorain, OH

Lorain, OH is in USDA zone 6b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 24.

Lorain on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes3
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 24
Growing season182 days

6b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Lorain, 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 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Elyria Lorain Co. Airport, OH, elevation 794 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 Lorain

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 44052 came on Mar 18 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Lorain, OH.

Soil in Lorain, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44052 is Mahoning — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mahoning-Urban land complex, 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 44052; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lorain, OH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,930base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.4 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 34 °F, low 20 °F 34°20° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 26 °F 39°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 JanFebruary: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elyria Lorain Co. Airport, OH (8 mi away); precipitation: Elyria 0.4 Se, OH (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lorain

440526b
−5 to 0 °F
440536b
−5 to 0 °F
440556b
−5 to 0 °F

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about Lorain

What planting zone is Lorain, OH?

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

When is the last frost in Lorain, OH?

The median last spring frost is April 24 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elyria Lorain Co. Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Lorain, 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 Lorain, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Lorain, OH get?

About 40.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).