Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49953 (Ontonagon, 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, Ontonagon 6 SE, MI (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2750% 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)127 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
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 49953 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 13 |
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 14 |
| 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 8 | Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 27 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 10 | 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 49953
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 27) 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 | Apr 1–15 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 1–15 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 1–15 | May 6–27 (transplant) Apr 29–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 27 (transplant) Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 15–29 | May 13–Jun 3 (transplant) May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 22–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 17–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 15–29 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 4–18 | Jun 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 15–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (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: Ontonagon 6 SE, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00206220), elevation 790 ft, 10.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergland Dam, MI | 15 mi | May 26 | Sep 27 |
| Greenland 6N, MI | 17 mi | May 23 | Oct 1 |
| Paulding, MI | 29 mi | May 31 | Sep 19 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49953
When is the last frost in 49953?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49953 is May 27. For a more cautious planting date, use June 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49953?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 14.
What hardiness zone is 49953?
ZIP 49953 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 49953 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
49960 Rockland 49971 White Pine 49910 Lake Gogebic 49929 Greenland 49925 Ewen 49948 Mass City 49912 Bruce Crossing 49947 Marenisco
Other ZIP codes in Ontonagon County
49910 49912 49925 49929 49948 49960 49971 All Ontonagon 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.