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

Planting zone for 43073 — Summit Station, OH

ZIP code 43073 (Summit Station, Licking County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 43073 is

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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 27
2012 zone6a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Summit Station, 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 Summit Station, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season191 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport, OH — 7 miles away, elevation 810 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 43073

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 43073 came on Mar 10 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26).

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).

Soil in Summit Station, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43073 is Pewamo — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pewamo low carbonate till-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 43073; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Summit Station, OH

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights103nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,607base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 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 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 JanFebruary: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 5.61 in precipitation 5.6 JulAugust: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport, OH (7 mi away); precipitation: New Albany 2.8 Sse, OH (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

5 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

430046b
Blacklick, OH · 3 mi
430686b
Reynoldsburg, OH · 3 mi
430696b
Reynoldsburg, OH · 4 mi
430626a
Pataskala, OH · 4 mi
430186a
Etna, OH · 5 mi
430546a
New Albany, OH · 6 mi
432136b
Columbus, OH · 6 mi
431476b
Pickerington, OH · 7 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 43073

What planting zone is ZIP code 43073?

ZIP code 43073 (Summit Station, OH) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Summit Station, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43073 is April 18; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Summit Station, OH?

The median first fall frost near 43073 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 191 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 43073?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 43073 get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Albany 2.8 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Summit Station, OH?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 43073 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pewamo at the center of ZIP 43073: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Summit Station, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 43073 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Summit Station, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 43073 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).