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

Planting zone for 44870 — Sandusky, OH

ZIP code 44870 (Sandusky, Erie 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 44870 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 10
First frostNov 5
2012 zone6b

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 Service

Loading the forecast for Sandusky, 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 Sandusky, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station Sandusky, OH — 2 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 44870

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

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 44870 came on Mar 21 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Sandusky, OH.

Soil in Sandusky, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44870 is Milford — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Milford silty clay loam, 0 to 1 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 44870; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sandusky, OH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights104nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,338base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34 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 34 °F, low 22 °F 34°22° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 31 °F 45°31° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 41 °F 57°41° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 53 °F 69°53° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 63 °F 78°63° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 67 °F 82°67° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 66 °F 81°66° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 59 °F 75°59° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 48 °F 63°48° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 37 °F 50°37° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 28 °F 39°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 MarApril: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sandusky, OH (2 mi away); precipitation: Sandusky, OH (2 mi away). 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.

448716b
Sandusky, OH · 2 mi
448246b
Castalia, OH · 5 mi
434406b
Lakeside Marblehead, OH · 7 mi
448466b
Milan, OH · 9 mi
448396b
Huron, OH · 9 mi
434336b
Gypsum, OH · 10 mi
434646b
Vickery, OH · 11 mi
434387a
Kelleys Island, OH · 13 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Sandusky → · Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 44870

What planting zone is ZIP code 44870?

ZIP code 44870 (Sandusky, 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 Sandusky, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 44870 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 Sandusky, OH?

The median first fall frost near 44870 is November 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 44870?

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 44870 get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandusky station).

How hot do summers get in Sandusky, 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 44870 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Milford at the center of ZIP 44870: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Sandusky, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 44870 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sandusky, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 44870 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).