Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49683 (Crystal Mountain, 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, Beulah 7SSW, MI (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)163 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 49683 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 20: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Apr 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 25 |
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) | Oct 4 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 22 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 7 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 24 | Nov 3 |
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 49683
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 20). 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 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 12–26 | Apr 16–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 14 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 2–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 28–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 12–26 | May 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (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: Beulah 7SSW, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00200758), elevation 773 ft, 10.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfort 2NE, MI | 16 mi | May 2 | Oct 26 |
| Traverse City Munson, MI | 21 mi | May 9 | Oct 15 |
| Wellston 1N, MI | 22 mi | May 28 | Sep 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 26 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49683
When is the last frost in 49683?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49683 is May 7. For a more cautious planting date, use May 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49683?
The average first fall freeze is October 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 4.
What hardiness zone is 49683?
ZIP 49683 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 49683 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
49625 Copemish 49643 Bendon 49616 Benzonia 49617 Beulah 49614 Bear Lake 49620 Buckley 49637 Grawn 49645 Kaleva
Other ZIP codes in Benzie County
49616 49617 49628 49635 49640 49643 49650 All Benzie 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.