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

Planting zone for 44280 — Valley City, OH

ZIP code 44280 (Valley City, Medina County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 44280 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 22
First frostNov 1
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 Valley City, 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 Valley City, 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 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 17
Growing season192 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Elyria 3 E, OH — 12 miles away, elevation 732 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 44280

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 · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 44280 came on Mar 12 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Valley City, OH.

Soil in Valley City, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44280 is Chagrin — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Chagrin silt loam.

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 44280; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Valley City, OH

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,420base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation42.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall65 inper year; 60 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 22 °F 36°22° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 36 °F 52°36° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.32 in precipitation, 18.4 in snowfall 3.3❄18 JanFebruary: 2.74 in precipitation, 18.9 in snowfall 2.7❄19 FebMarch: 3.44 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 3.4❄9 MarApril: 3.46 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 3.5❄3 AprMay: 3.87 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 MayJune: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.20 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.2❄4 NovDecember: 3.18 in precipitation, 12.4 in snowfall 3.2❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elyria 3 E, OH (12 mi away); precipitation: Brunswick 0.5 Ne, OH (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

440286b
Columbia Station, OH · 4 mi
442126b
Brunswick, OH · 5 mi
440446b
Grafton, OH · 6 mi
441496b
Strongsville, OH · 6 mi
442536a
Litchfield, OH · 8 mi
442566a
Medina, OH · 8 mi
441366b
Strongsville, OH · 8 mi
442586a
Medina, OH · 9 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 44280

What planting zone is ZIP code 44280?

ZIP code 44280 (Valley City, 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 Valley City, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 44280 is April 22; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elyria 3 E station.

When is the first frost in Valley City, OH?

The median first fall frost near 44280 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 192 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 44280?

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 44280 get?

About 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 65 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brunswick 0.5 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Valley City, OH?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 44280 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chagrin at the center of ZIP 44280: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Valley City, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 44280 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Valley City, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 44280 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 44280 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 44280 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.