Blog

When to Plant Sunchoke in Stark County, OH

Sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) are a native sunflower relative grown for their knobby, nutty-flavored tubers. They are extremely productive and nearly impossible to eradicate.

Stark County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 171 days.

At an elevation of 1,118 feet, Stark County receives approximately 31.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Sunchoke to ensure they mature before fall.

Stark County, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
171 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
171 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Stark County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Sunchoke Planting Timeline — Stark County, OH

Sunchoke Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 14 May 14 – May 28
Harvest September 3 Sep 3 – Oct 29

Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

110–150 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

171 days in Stark County

Growing Tips for Stark County

Plant tubers 4 inches deep in early spring. Contain plants with barriers as they spread aggressively. Harvest after frost or leave in ground and dig as needed through winter.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sunchoke in Stark County, OH?

Stark County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Sunchoke planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stark County, OH?

Stark County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 18.

🌱

Your Stark County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Stark County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Stark County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.