Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49630 (Empire, 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, Maple City 1E, MI (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)140 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 49630 (Empire)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 49630, 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
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 49630 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.
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 4 |
| 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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 26 |
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 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 22 | Oct 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 9 | Oct 24 |
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 49630
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Oct 9). 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 14–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 22 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 10–24 | May 8–29 (transplant) May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 17–May 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 3 (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 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (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 31–Aug 28 (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: Maple City 1E, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00205097), elevation 799 ft, 10.4 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 |
| NW Michigan Rsch Farm, MI | 18 mi | Apr 30 | Nov 1 |
| Traverse City Munson, MI | 21 mi | May 9 | Oct 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49630
When is the last frost in 49630?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49630 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 49630?
The average first fall freeze is October 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 25.
What hardiness zone is 49630?
ZIP 49630 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 49630 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
49636 Glen Arbor 49664 Maple City 49640 Honor 49650 Hardwood Acres 49654 Leland 49621 Cedar 49617 Beulah 49635 Frankfort
Other ZIP codes in Leelanau County
49621 49636 49653 49654 49664 49670 49674 49682 49684 All Leelanau 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.