Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49632 (Falmouth, 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, Houghton Lake 6 WSW, MI (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)106 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°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
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Gaylord 9 SSW (48 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Gaylord 9 SSW (48 mi).
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 49632 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 30 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 19 |
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) | Aug 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 30 | Sep 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 16 | Sep 30 |
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 49632
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 30) and first fall frost (Sep 15). 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 | Apr 4–18 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Jun 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Jun 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 4–18 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 4–18 | May 9–30 (transplant) May 2–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) Jul 7–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 4–18 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) Jun 9–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 4–18 | May 2–30 (transplant) May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) Jun 9–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jun 9–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jun 9–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 16–30 (transplant) | Jun 9–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | May 26–Jun 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 4–18 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 18–May 2 | May 16–Jun 6 (transplant) May 16–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 9–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 25–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 2–16 (transplant) | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 20–Jul 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 20–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 2–9 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 2–9 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 2–9 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 2–9 | Jun 13–27 (transplant) Jun 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 2–9 | Jun 13–27 (transplant) Jun 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 18–May 2 | Jun 13–27 (transplant) Jun 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 7–21 | Jun 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 18–May 2 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 16–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (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: Houghton Lake 6 WSW, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00203932), elevation 1,135 ft, 6.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Lake 2NW, MI | 11 mi | May 20 | Oct 1 |
| Lake City EXP Farm, MI | 13 mi | May 22 | Sep 26 |
| Houghton Lk Roscommon AP, MI | 17 mi | May 19 | Sep 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49632
When is the last frost in 49632?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49632 is May 30. For a more cautious planting date, use June 19, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49632?
The average first fall freeze is September 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 26.
What hardiness zone is 49632?
ZIP 49632 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 49632 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
49667 48629 Houghton Lake 49657 McBain 48630 Houghton Lake 49665 Marion 49651 Lake City 48625 Harrison 48651 Prudenville
Other ZIP codes in Missaukee County
49651 49657 49667 All Missaukee County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.