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

Planting zone for 45716 — Buchtel, OH

ZIP code 45716 (Buchtel, Athens County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 45716 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 25
First frostOct 23
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 Buchtel, 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 Buchtel, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Athens Ou, OH — 11 miles away, elevation 686 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 45716

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 45716 came on Mar 9 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Buchtel, OH.

Soil in Buchtel, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 45716 is Westmoreland — 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 matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Westmoreland-Guernsey silt loams, 40 to 70 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 45716; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Buchtel, OH

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights124nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,198base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 23 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation40.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year; 16 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 27 °F 43°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.09 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 3.1❄4 JanFebruary: 2.74 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 2.7❄4 FebMarch: 3.42 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 3.4❄2 MarApril: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.83 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.8 NovDecember: 2.87 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.9❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Athens Ou, OH (11 mi away); precipitation: Nelsonville, OH (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

457646b
Nelsonville, OH · 3 mi
431116a
Carbon Hill, OH · 4 mi
431446b
Murray City, OH · 5 mi
457196b
Chauncey, OH · 5 mi
457406b
Jacksonville, OH · 6 mi
457826b
Trimble, OH · 6 mi
457616b
Millfield, OH · 6 mi
457806b
The Plains, OH · 7 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 45716

What planting zone is ZIP code 45716?

ZIP code 45716 (Buchtel, 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 Buchtel, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 45716 is April 25; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Athens Ou station.

When is the first frost in Buchtel, OH?

The median first fall frost near 45716 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 45716?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 45716 get?

About 40.2 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nelsonville station).

How hot do summers get in Buchtel, OH?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 45716 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Westmoreland at the center of ZIP 45716: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Buchtel, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 45716 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Buchtel, OH?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 45716 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.