Planting zone for 43440 — Lakeside Marblehead, OH
ZIP code 43440 (Lakeside Marblehead, Ottawa County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost November 5.
Where ZIP 43440 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
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 6b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Lakeside Marblehead, 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 Lakeside Marblehead, OH
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 16.
From the NOAA station Sandusky, OH — 6 miles away, 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 43440
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 43440 came on Mar 21 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).
Apr 52026
Mar 21
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
Shrubs 109
Wildflowers & perennials 203
Grasses 165
Vines 10
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 Lakeside Marblehead, OH.
Soil in Lakeside Marblehead, OH
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43440 is Toledo — silty clay, very poorly drained.
Map unit: Toledo silty clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, flooded.
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 43440; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Lakeside Marblehead, OH
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sandusky, OH (6 mi away); precipitation: Sandusky, OH (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 43440
What planting zone is ZIP code 43440?
ZIP code 43440 (Lakeside Marblehead, OH) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).
When is the last frost in Lakeside Marblehead, OH?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43440 is April 10; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandusky station.
When is the first frost in Lakeside Marblehead, OH?
The median first fall frost near 43440 is November 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 43440?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 13 – Feb 27 and set transplants outside around Apr 17 – May 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 43440 get?
About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandusky station).
How hot do summers get in Lakeside Marblehead, OH?
The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 43440 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Toledo at the center of ZIP 43440: silty clay, very poorly drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).
Did spring come early in Lakeside Marblehead, OH in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 43440 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Lakeside Marblehead, OH?
Long-day onions: the longest day near 43440 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).