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

Planting zone for 45042 — Middletown, OH

ZIP code 45042 (Middletown, Butler County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 45042 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 24
First frostOct 19
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 Middletown, 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 Middletown, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season178 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Franklin, OH — 6 miles away, elevation 679 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 45042

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 45042 came on Mar 10 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22).

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 Middletown, OH.

Soil in Middletown, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 45042 is Miamian — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Miamian silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, 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 45042; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Middletown, OH

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,407base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 58 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
Precipitation42 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall10 inper year; 12 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 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° 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 · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.16 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.2❄5 JanFebruary: 2.44 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 2.4❄2 FebMarch: 3.69 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.7❄2 MarApril: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 AprMay: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.01 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.0 NovDecember: 3.39 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.4❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Franklin, OH (6 mi away); precipitation: Middletown, OH (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

453276b
Germantown, OH · 5 mi
450446b
Middletown, OH · 5 mi
450676b
Trenton, OH · 5 mi
450056b
Franklin, OH · 7 mi
450706a
West Elkton, OH · 8 mi
450506b
Monroe, OH · 8 mi
450556b
Overpeck, OH · 8 mi
453306a
Gratis, OH · 9 mi

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

Questions about 45042

What planting zone is ZIP code 45042?

ZIP code 45042 (Middletown, 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 Middletown, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 45042 is April 24; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Franklin station.

When is the first frost in Middletown, OH?

The median first fall frost near 45042 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 178 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 45042?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 45042 get?

About 42 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Middletown station).

How hot do summers get in Middletown, OH?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 45042 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Miamian at the center of ZIP 45042: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Middletown, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 45042 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Middletown, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 45042 is 14 h 58 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 45042 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 45042 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.