Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49873 (Menominee County, 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, Cornell 5SE, MI (16 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)133 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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Chatham 1 SE (44 mi), Wabeno #1 (58 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Chatham 1 SE (44 mi), Wabeno #1 (58 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 49873 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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 3 |
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 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 16 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 2 | Sep 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 19 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 5 | Oct 14 |
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 49873
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 19 (transplant) Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 7–21 | May 5–26 (transplant) May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (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 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (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 23–Aug 20 (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: Cornell 5SE, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00201802), elevation 794 ft, 15.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escanaba, MI | 20 mi | May 13 | Oct 7 |
| Rapid Rvr 4SSE, MI | 26 mi | May 18 | Oct 4 |
| Iron Mtn-kingsford Wwtp, MI | 29 mi | May 17 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49873
When is the last frost in 49873?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49873 is May 19. For a more cautious planting date, use June 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49873?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 16.
What hardiness zone is 49873?
ZIP 49873 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 49873 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
49874 Powers 49886 49896 49847 Hermansville 49818 49807 49834 49863
Other ZIP codes in Menominee County
49812 49821 49847 49848 49858 49863 49874 49886 49887 49893 49896 All Menominee County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.