Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49657 (McBain, 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, Lake City EXP Farm, MI (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)125 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 (53 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 (53 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 49657 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 8 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 22 |
| 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 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 4 | Sep 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 22 | Sep 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 10 | Oct 8 |
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 49657
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Sep 26). 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 27–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 13–27 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 13–27 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 1–22 (transplant) Apr 24–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 22 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 10–24 | May 8–29 (transplant) May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 17–May 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 12–Jul 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 10–24 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 29–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 10–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (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: Lake City EXP Farm, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00204502), elevation 1,230 ft, 6.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac, MI | 11 mi | May 19 | Oct 1 |
| Cadillac 9&10 News, MI | 11 mi | May 15 | Oct 1 |
| Houghton Lake 6 WSW, MI | 16 mi | May 30 | Sep 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49657
When is the last frost in 49657?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49657 is May 22. 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 49657?
The average first fall freeze is September 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 11.
What hardiness zone is 49657?
ZIP 49657 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 49657 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
49665 Marion 49632 Falmouth 49651 Lake City 49688 Tustin 49667 49663 Manton 49601 Cadillac 49655 Le Roy
Other ZIP codes in Missaukee County
49632 49651 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.