Frost dates for ZIP 49701 (Mackinaw City, 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, St Ignace Mackinac Br, MI (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)167 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Fall in zone 5b
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 45°F, as of Oct 18, 7:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Gaylord 9 SSW (57 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 7:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Gaylord 9 SSW (57 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 49701 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 23: 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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 22 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 20 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 7 | Oct 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 25 | Nov 3 |
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 49701
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 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 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 12–26 | Apr 16–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 14 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 2–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 28–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 12–26 | May 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (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: St Ignace Mackinac Br, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00207274), elevation 595 ft, 7.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Ignace, MI | 8 mi | May 16 | Oct 13 |
| Pellston AP #2, MI | 12 mi | May 21 | Sep 27 |
| Pellston Rgnl AP, MI | 12 mi | May 31 | Sep 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49701
When is the last frost in 49701?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49701 is May 7. For a more cautious planting date, use May 22, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49701?
The average first fall freeze is October 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 6.
What hardiness zone is 49701?
ZIP 49701 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 49701 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
49718 Carp Lake 49755 Levering 49757 Mackinac Island 49775 49769 Pellston 49781 St. Ignace 49716 Brutus 49721 Cheboygan
Other ZIP codes in Emmet County
49706 49716 49718 49722 49740 49755 49764 49769 49770 All Emmet County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
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