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

Planting zone for 45618 — Cherry Fork, OH

ZIP code 45618 (Cherry Fork, Adams County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 45618 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 29
First frostOct 11
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 Cherry Fork, 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 Cherry Fork, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Ripley Exp Farm, OH — 12 miles away, elevation 879 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 45618

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 45618 came on Mar 10 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

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 Cherry Fork, OH.

Soil in Cherry Fork, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 45618 is Jessup — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Jessup silt loam, 8 to 15 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 45618; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cherry Fork, OH

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,172base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation46.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall20 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 17 °F 40°17° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 20 °F 44°20° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 27 °F 53°27° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 37 °F 66°37° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 60 °F 86°60° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 58 °F 85°58° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 39 °F 67°39° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 21 °F 44°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.42 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 3.4❄7 JanFebruary: 3.32 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 3.3❄7 FebMarch: 4.39 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 4.4❄3 MarApril: 4.54 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.5 AprMay: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.02 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.0 NovDecember: 3.81 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 3.8❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ripley Exp Farm, OH (12 mi away); precipitation: W Union 6 Ene, OH (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

456976b
Winchester, OH · 4 mi
456796b
Seaman, OH · 7 mi
456936b
West Union, OH · 7 mi
451156b
Decatur, OH · 7 mi
451686b
Russellville, OH · 9 mi
451056b
Bentonville, OH · 9 mi
451676b
Ripley, OH · 12 mi
451446b
Manchester, OH · 12 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 45618

What planting zone is ZIP code 45618?

ZIP code 45618 (Cherry Fork, 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 Cherry Fork, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 45618 is April 29; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ripley Exp Farm station.

When is the first frost in Cherry Fork, OH?

The median first fall frost near 45618 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 45618?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 45618 get?

About 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 20 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Union 6 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Cherry Fork, OH?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 45618 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jessup at the center of ZIP 45618: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cherry Fork, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 45618 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cherry Fork, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 45618 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 45618 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 45618 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.