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

Planting zone for 44881 — Sulphur Springs, OH

ZIP code 44881 (Sulphur Springs, Crawford County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 44881 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 27
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Bucyrus, OH — 6 miles away, elevation 955 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 44881

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 44881 came on Mar 12 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 6a in Ohio

565 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Ohio, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

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 202

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 164

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 8

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Sulphur Springs, OH.

Soil in Sulphur Springs, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 44881 is Marengo — 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 matter6%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Marengo silty clay 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 44881; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sulphur Springs, OH

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,450base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 34 °F 51°34° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 27 °F 40°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.75 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 2.8❄8 JanFebruary: 2.13 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 2.1❄5 FebMarch: 2.52 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 2.5❄3 MarApril: 3.54 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.5❄1 AprMay: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.87 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.9❄1 NovDecember: 2.64 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 2.6❄6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

448546a
New Washington, OH · 5 mi
448566a
North Robinson, OH · 5 mi
448876a
Tiro, OH · 5 mi
448206a
Bucyrus, OH · 6 mi
448276a
Crestline, OH · 7 mi
448186a
Bloomville, OH · 11 mi
448756a
Shelby, OH · 12 mi
448336a
Galion, OH · 12 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 44881

What planting zone is ZIP code 44881?

ZIP code 44881 (Sulphur Springs, OH) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Sulphur Springs, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 44881 is April 19; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bucyrus station.

When is the first frost in Sulphur Springs, OH?

The median first fall frost near 44881 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 190 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 44881?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 44881 get?

About 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bucyrus station).

How hot do summers get in Sulphur Springs, OH?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 44881 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Marengo at the center of ZIP 44881: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Sulphur Springs, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 44881 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sulphur Springs, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 44881 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).