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

Planting zone for 45889 — Van Buren, OH

ZIP code 45889 (Van Buren, Hancock County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 45889 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 22
First frostOct 24
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 Van Buren, 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 Van Buren, OH

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Findlay Wpcc, OH — 7 miles away, elevation 768 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 45889

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 45889 came on Mar 18 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Van Buren, OH.

Soil in Van Buren, OH

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 45889 is Hoytville — clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.75%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Hoytville 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 45889; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Van Buren, OH

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights117nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,261base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall24 inper year; 36 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 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 21 °F 37°21° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 33 °F 50°33° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 25 °F 38°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.59 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 2.6❄8 JanFebruary: 2.19 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 2.2❄4 FebMarch: 2.55 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 2.5❄4 MarApril: 3.77 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.71 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.7 OctNovember: 2.61 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 2.6❄1 NovDecember: 2.48 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 2.5❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Findlay Wpcc, OH (7 mi away); precipitation: Findlay Wpcc, OH (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

458726a
North Baltimore, OH · 3 mi
448176b
Bloomdale, OH · 6 mi
448046b
Arcadia, OH · 6 mi
434136a
Cygnet, OH · 7 mi
434376a
Jerry City, OH · 7 mi
458396b
Findlay, OH · 8 mi
435296a
Hoytville, OH · 8 mi
458406b
Findlay, OH · 9 mi

Ohio planting zones →

Questions about 45889

What planting zone is ZIP code 45889?

ZIP code 45889 (Van Buren, 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 Van Buren, OH?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 45889 is April 22; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Findlay Wpcc station.

When is the first frost in Van Buren, OH?

The median first fall frost near 45889 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 45889?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 45889 get?

About 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 24 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Findlay Wpcc station).

How hot do summers get in Van Buren, OH?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 45889 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hoytville at the center of ZIP 45889: clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Van Buren, OH in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 45889 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Van Buren, OH?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 45889 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).