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

Planting zone for 43074 — Sunbury, OH

ZIP code 43074 (Sunbury, Delaware County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 43074 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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 27
First frostOct 17
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 Sunbury, 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 Sunbury, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Centerburg 2 Se, OH — 11 miles away, elevation 1,204 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 43074

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 43074 came on Mar 10 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 Sunbury, OH.

Soil in Sunbury, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43074 is Cardington — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cardington 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 43074; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sunbury, OH

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,967base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.7 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 17 °F 34°17° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 23 °F 39°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Centerburg 2 Se, OH (11 mi away); precipitation: Sunbury 5.7 Ese, OH (6 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.

430216b
Galena, OH · 5 mi
430326b
Kilbourne, OH · 7 mi
430826b
Westerville, OH · 8 mi
430136a
Croton, OH · 9 mi
433346a
Marengo, OH · 9 mi
430116a
Centerburg, OH · 9 mi
430356b
Lewis Center, OH · 10 mi
432406b
Columbus, OH · 11 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 43074

What planting zone is ZIP code 43074?

ZIP code 43074 (Sunbury, 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 Sunbury, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43074 is April 27; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Centerburg 2 Se station.

When is the first frost in Sunbury, OH?

The median first fall frost near 43074 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 43074?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 43074 get?

About 43.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sunbury 5.7 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Sunbury, OH?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 43074 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cardington at the center of ZIP 43074: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sunbury, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 43074 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sunbury, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 43074 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).