Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49446 (New Era, MI)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Montague 4 NW, MI (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)136 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 49446 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 6 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 20 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 31 | Sep 23 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 19 | Oct 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 5 | Oct 18 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 49446
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Oct 4). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 10–24 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 10–24 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 28–May 19 (transplant) Apr 21–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–30 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 19 (transplant) Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 14–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 7–21 | May 5–26 (transplant) May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 21–28 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 21–28 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 21–28 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 21–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 21–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 7–21 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 24–Mar 10 | May 26–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 7–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Montague 4 NW, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00205567), elevation 650 ft, 5.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hart 3 WSW, MI | 10 mi | May 12 | Oct 10 |
| Hesperia 4 WNW, MI | 14 mi | May 17 | Oct 1 |
| Fremont 4 WSW, MI | 19 mi | May 8 | Oct 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49446
When is the last frost in 49446?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49446 is May 19. For a more cautious planting date, use June 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49446?
The average first fall freeze is October 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 16.
What hardiness zone is 49446?
ZIP 49446 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 49446 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
49455 Shelby 49437 Montague 49452 Rothbury 49436 Mears 49461 Whitehall 49420 Hart 49425 49421 Hesperia
Other ZIP codes in Oceana County
49420 49421 49436 49449 49452 49455 49459 All Oceana County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.