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

Planting zone for 43946 — Sardis, OH

ZIP code 43946 (Sardis, Monroe County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 26.

Where ZIP 43946 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 26
First frostOct 26
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 Sardis, 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 Sardis, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Hannibal Locks & Dam, OH — 6 miles away, elevation 620 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 43946

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 43946 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 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 Sardis, OH.

Soil in Sardis, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 43946 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-Upshur complex, 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 43946; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sardis, OH

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights121nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,113base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45 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 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° 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 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hannibal Locks & Dam, OH (6 mi away); precipitation: Hannibal Locks & Dam, OH (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

261596b
Paden City, WV · 4 mi
437526b
Laings, OH · 5 mi
439316b
Hannibal, OH · 6 mi
439156b
Clarington, OH · 7 mi
261756b
Sistersville, WV · 8 mi
439146b
Cameron, OH · 9 mi
437936b
Woodsfield, OH · 9 mi
457676b
New Matamoras, OH · 11 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 43946

What planting zone is ZIP code 43946?

ZIP code 43946 (Sardis, 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 Sardis, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 43946 is April 26; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hannibal Locks & Dam station.

When is the first frost in Sardis, OH?

The median first fall frost near 43946 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 43946?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 43946 get?

About 45 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hannibal Locks & Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Sardis, OH?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 43946 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 43946: silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sardis, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 43946 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 Sardis, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 43946 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 43946 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 43946 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.