Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 48653 (Roscommon, 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 Lk Roscommon AP, MI (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2350% 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
Get The Dial for 48653 (Roscommon)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 48653, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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 (30 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 (30 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 48653 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) | Apr 30 |
| 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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 3 | Sep 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 19 | Sep 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 4 | Oct 5 |
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 48653
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Sep 23). 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) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 15–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) Jun 17–Jul 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 19 (transplant) Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 1–29 (transplant) Jun 17–Jul 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 10–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 17–Jul 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 7–21 | May 5–26 (transplant) May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jun 3–17 (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) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (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 15–Aug 12 (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 Lk Roscommon AP, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00094814), elevation 1,151 ft, 9.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grayling, MI | 12 mi | May 23 | Sep 27 |
| Houghton Lake 2NW, MI | 15 mi | May 20 | Oct 1 |
| Houghton Lake 6 WSW, MI | 19 mi | May 30 | Sep 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 48653
When is the last frost in 48653?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 48653 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 48653?
The average first fall freeze is September 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 6.
What hardiness zone is 48653?
ZIP 48653 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 48653 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
48627 48656 St. Helen 49738 Grayling 48630 Houghton Lake 48629 Houghton Lake 48651 Prudenville 48636 49667
Other ZIP codes in Roscommon County
48627 48629 48630 48651 48656 All Roscommon County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.