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

Planting zone for Sandusky, OH

Sandusky, OH is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost November 5.

Sandusky 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 10
First frostNov 5
Growing season209 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sandusky, 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 Sandusky, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station Sandusky, OH, elevation 584 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 Sandusky

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 44871 came on Mar 21 — 15 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 Sandusky, OH.

Soil in Sandusky, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44871 is Randolph — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Randolph silt loam, 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 44871; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sandusky, OH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights104nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,338base 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)
Precipitation34 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 22 °F 34°22° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 31 °F 45°31° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 41 °F 57°41° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 53 °F 69°53° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 63 °F 78°63° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 67 °F 82°67° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 66 °F 81°66° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 59 °F 75°59° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 48 °F 63°48° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 37 °F 50°37° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 28 °F 39°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 MarApril: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sandusky, OH (within 1 mile); precipitation: Sandusky, OH (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Sandusky

448706b
−5 to 0 °F
448716b
−5 to 0 °F

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about Sandusky

What planting zone is Sandusky, OH?

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

When is the last frost in Sandusky, OH?

The median last spring frost is April 10 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandusky station).

When can I plant a garden in Sandusky, OH?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 27 – Mar 20; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 17, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Sandusky, 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 Sandusky, OH get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).