Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49043 (Van Buren 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, S Haven, MI (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)201 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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 49043 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 5: 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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 4 |
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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 30 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 17 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 5 | Nov 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 49043
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Nov 5). 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 | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 27–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 20–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 6–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 6–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–24 (transplant) Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 13–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 20–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 20–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 20–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 20–27 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 20–27 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 24–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 6–20 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (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: S Haven, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00207690), elevation 590 ft, 8.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor AP, MI | 14 mi | May 5 | Oct 15 |
| Benton Harbor AP, MI | 14 mi | May 4 | Oct 17 |
| Bloomingdale, MI | 17 mi | May 7 | Oct 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49043
When is the last frost in 49043?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49043 is April 17. For a more cautious planting date, use May 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49043?
The average first fall freeze is November 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 24.
What hardiness zone is 49043?
ZIP 49043 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 49043 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
49038 Lake Michigan Beach 49057 Hartford 49098 Paw Paw Lake 49013 Bangor 49090 South Haven 49084 49063 49027 Breedsville
Other ZIP codes in Van Buren County
49013 49026 49027 49045 49055 49056 49057 49063 49064 49065 49071 49079 49090 All Van Buren 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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- 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.