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

Planting zone for 43342 — Prospect, OH

ZIP code 43342 (Prospect, Marion County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 43342 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 25
First frostOct 20
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 Prospect, 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 Prospect, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season178 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Marion 2 N, OH — 11 miles away, elevation 965 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 43342

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 43342 came on Mar 12 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Prospect, OH.

Soil in Prospect, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43342 is Glynwood — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Glynwood silt loam, ground moraine, 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 43342; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prospect, OH

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,104base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year; 45 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 32 °F 50°32° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.59 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 2.6❄9 JanFebruary: 2.00 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 2.0❄6 FebMarch: 2.72 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 2.7❄4 MarApril: 3.65 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.75 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.8 OctNovember: 3.01 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.0❄1 NovDecember: 2.64 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 2.6❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Marion 2 N, OH (11 mi away); precipitation: Prospect, OH (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

433226a
Green Camp, OH · 4 mi
430666b
Radnor, OH · 5 mi
433566a
Waldo, OH · 8 mi
433446a
Richwood, OH · 9 mi
433026a
Marion, OH · 9 mi
433416a
New Bloomington, OH · 11 mi
433016a
Marion, OH · 12 mi
430036a
Ashley, OH · 12 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 43342

What planting zone is ZIP code 43342?

ZIP code 43342 (Prospect, 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 Prospect, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43342 is April 25; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marion 2 N station.

When is the first frost in Prospect, OH?

The median first fall frost near 43342 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 178 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 43342?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 43342 get?

About 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prospect station).

How hot do summers get in Prospect, OH?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 43342 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Glynwood at the center of ZIP 43342: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Prospect, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 43342 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prospect, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 43342 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).