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

Planting zone for 43786 — Stafford, OH

ZIP code 43786 (Stafford, Monroe County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 43786 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 14
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Service

Loading the forecast for Stafford, 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 Stafford, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season167 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Caldwell 3se, OH — 10 miles away, elevation 879 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 43786

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 43786 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 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

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 203

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 165

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 10

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Stafford, OH.

Soil in Stafford, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43786 is Gilpin — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin-Westmoreland silt loams, 18 to 35 percent slopes, moderately 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 43786; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stafford, OH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights126nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,016base 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
Precipitation44.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.60 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 3.6❄7 JanFebruary: 3.08 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 3.1❄4 FebMarch: 4.08 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 4.1❄2 MarApril: 3.61 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 AprMay: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.96 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.03 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.0 NovDecember: 3.31 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 3.3❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Caldwell 3se, OH (10 mi away); precipitation: Beverly Stp, OH (22 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

437546b
Lewisville, OH · 3 mi
457346b
Graysville, OH · 6 mi
437886b
Summerfield, OH · 7 mi
457456b
Lower Salem, OH · 8 mi
437936b
Woodsfield, OH · 10 mi
437796b
Sarahsville, OH · 11 mi
457896b
Wingett Run, OH · 11 mi
457276b
Dexter City, OH · 12 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 43786

What planting zone is ZIP code 43786?

ZIP code 43786 (Stafford, 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 Stafford, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43786 is April 30; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Caldwell 3se station.

When is the first frost in Stafford, OH?

The median first fall frost near 43786 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 167 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 43786?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 43786 get?

About 44.5 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beverly Stp station).

How hot do summers get in Stafford, OH?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 43786 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 43786: silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Stafford, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 43786 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 Stafford, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 43786 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 43786 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 43786 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.