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

Planting zone for 43130 — Lancaster, OH

ZIP code 43130 (Lancaster, Fairfield County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 43130 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 22
First frostOct 24
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 Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Lancaster, OH — within 1 mile, elevation 827 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 43130

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
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 22) 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 43130 came on Mar 10 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Lancaster, OH.

Soil in Lancaster, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43130 is Amanda — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Amanda silt loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes, eroded.

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 43130; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lancaster, OH

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights114nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,518base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 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
Precipitation40.2 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 22 °F 38°22° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.32 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 2.69 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lancaster, OH (within 1 mile); precipitation: Lancaster, OH (within 1 mile). 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.

431556a
Sugar Grove, OH · 6 mi
431126b
Carroll, OH · 8 mi
431026b
Amanda, OH · 9 mi
431486a
Pleasantville, OH · 11 mi
431076a
Bremen, OH · 11 mi
431576b
Thurston, OH · 11 mi
431496b
Rockbridge, OH · 11 mi
431056b
Baltimore, OH · 12 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 43130

What planting zone is ZIP code 43130?

ZIP code 43130 (Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43130 is April 22; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster station.

When is the first frost in Lancaster, OH?

The median first fall frost near 43130 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 43130?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 43130 get?

About 40.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lancaster station).

How hot do summers get in Lancaster, OH?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 43130 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Amanda at the center of ZIP 43130: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lancaster, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 43130 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lancaster, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 43130 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.