Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 49730 (Lakes of the North, 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, Gaylord, MI (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2650% 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
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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
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Gaylord 9 SSW, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 53°, Fri 51°, Sat 47°.
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Gaylord 9 SSW, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 54°, Fri 52°, Sat 48°.
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 49730 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°F at 4 inches. 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) | May 8 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 8 |
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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 9 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 5 | Sep 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 25 | Sep 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 13 | Oct 7 |
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 49730
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 25) and first fall frost (Sep 26). 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 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 4–25 (transplant) Apr 27–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 25 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 13–27 | May 11–Jun 1 (transplant) May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 20–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 15–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 13–27 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 2–16 | Jun 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 13–27 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (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: Gaylord, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00203096), elevation 1,318 ft, 7.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaylord Otsego Co AP, MI | 8 mi | May 22 | Sep 30 |
| Boyne Falls, MI | 9 mi | May 23 | Oct 3 |
| Gaylord 9 SSW, MI | 12 mi | May 15 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 49730
When is the last frost in 49730?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 49730 is May 25. For a more cautious planting date, use June 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 49730?
The average first fall freeze is September 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 13.
What hardiness zone is 49730?
ZIP 49730 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 49730 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
49611 Alba 49735 Gaylord 49713 Boyne Falls 49659 Lakes of the North 49727 East Jordan 49712 Horton Bay 49795 Vanderbilt 49796 Walloon Lake
Other ZIP codes in Antrim County
49611 49612 49615 49622 49627 49629 49648 49659 49727 49729 All Antrim County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.