Frost Dates for Alpena, MI 49707
Last spring frost May 15 · First fall frost October 7 · 145 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 49707 has about 21,900 people.
Moderate season: 145 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 29–May 30 (31 days). Fall frost risk spans September 24–October 19 (25 days).
Frost probability for 49707
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 30 | May 15 | April 29 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 24 | October 7 | October 19 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at HARRISVILLE 2NNE (49.0 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 145-day season in Alpena
In Alpena (145 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 5 | 103 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 103 available after May 29. | Jun 7 |
| Pepper | Apr 3 | May 29–Jun 5 | 103 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 103 available after May 29. | Jun 12 |
| Lettuce | Mar 20 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 16 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 24–May 1 | 187 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 187 available after Apr 24. | Aug 5 |
| Cucumber | Apr 24 | May 29–Jun 5 | 117 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 117 available after May 29. | Jul 11 |
| Beans | — | May 22–Jun 5 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 22. | Jul 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20–May 29 | 208 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 208 available after Mar 20. | Jul 27 |
| Zucchini | May 1 | May 29–Jun 5 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 29. | Jul 16 |
| Onion | Feb 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 180 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 17. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 20–May 8 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Oct 28. | Sep 4 |
| Kale | Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Broccoli | Mar 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 180 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 17. | Jul 12 |
| Cabbage | Mar 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 194 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 17. | Aug 5 |
| Radish | — | Mar 20–Jun 12 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 14. | Sep 5 |
| Beets | — | Mar 20–Jun 12 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 6 |
| Potatoes | — | May 1–May 8 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 1. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 7 | 250 | overwinter: Plant Oct 7 to Oct 28; harvest the following summer. | Oct 28 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 10–Jun 5 | 201 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 10; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 17 | May 22–May 29 | 117 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 117 available after May 22. | Jun 19 |
| Pumpkin | May 1 | May 29–May 29 | 110 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 110 available after May 29. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 3 | May 8–May 22 | 159 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 159 available after May 8. | Jul 17 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 20 | May 1–May 1 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 6 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 20–Jun 12 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Oct 28. | Sep 4 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 194 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 17. | Jul 6 |
| Butternut Squash | May 1 | May 29–Jun 5 | 110 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 110 available after May 29. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 27 | May 29–Jun 5 | 103 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 103 available after May 29. | Jun 17 |
| Okra | Apr 17 | May 22–May 29 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 22 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 16 |
| Basil | Apr 10 | Jun 5–Jun 5 | 110 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 110 available after Jun 5. | Jul 11 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 17–May 8 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 11 |
| Parsley | Mar 6 | May 22–May 29 | 145 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 145 available after May 22. | Jul 22 |
| Celery | Mar 6 | May 22–Jun 5 | 145 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 145 available after May 22. | Jun 2 |
| Scallions | Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 15 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 17–May 1 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 25 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 17 | May 8–May 15 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 16 |
| Collards | Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 15 |
| Cantaloupe | May 1 | May 29–Jun 5 | 103 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 103 available after May 29. | Jun 2 |
| Chives | Feb 20 | May 22–May 29 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 22. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 20–Jun 12 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 6 |
| Oregano | Mar 6 | May 22–May 29 | 159 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 159 available after May 22. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 20 | May 22–May 29 | 145 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 145 available after May 22. | — |
| Sage | Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | 159 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 159 available after May 22. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 6 | May 22–May 29 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 22. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 11 |
| Cosmos | Apr 17 | May 15–May 29 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 15. | Jul 11 |
| Lavender | Feb 20 | May 15–May 29 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 15. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 3 | May 15–May 22 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 21 |
| Melons | May 1 | May 29–Jun 5 | 103 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 103 available after May 29. | Jun 2 |
| Mint | — | May 15–May 29 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 15. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 16 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 22–Jun 5 | 124 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 124 available after May 22. | Jul 6 |
| Spaghetti Squash | May 1 | May 29–Jun 5 | 110 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 110 available after May 29. | Jun 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 15–May 29 | 131 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 131 available after May 15. | Jul 1 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | 110 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 110 available after May 22. | Jun 12 |
| Watermelon | May 1 | May 22–May 29 | 110 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 110 available after May 22. | Jun 7 |
| Yellow Squash | May 1 | May 29–Jun 5 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 29. | Jul 16 |
| Zinnias | Apr 17 | May 15–May 29 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 15. | Jul 11 |
Month by month in Alpena
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 20), Lavender (Feb 20), Onion (Feb 20), Rosemary (Feb 20). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 6), Collards (Mar 6), Kale (Mar 6), Oregano (Mar 6), Parsley (Mar 6), Scallions (Mar 6), +9 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 20), Beets (Mar 20), Dill (Mar 20), Peas (Mar 20), Radish (Mar 20), Spinach (Mar 20). |
| April | Start indoors: Calendula (Apr 3), Cauliflower (Apr 3), Marigolds (Apr 3), Pepper (Apr 3), Basil (Apr 10), Tomato (Apr 10), +7 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 3), Cilantro (Apr 17), Turnip (Apr 17), Carrots (Apr 24). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 17), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 17), Cabbage (Apr 17), Collards (Apr 17), Kale (Apr 17), Lettuce (Apr 17), +2 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 10). |
| May | Start indoors: Butternut Squash (May 1), Cantaloupe (May 1), Melons (May 1), Pumpkin (May 1), Spaghetti Squash (May 1), Watermelon (May 1), +2 more. Direct sow from: Potatoes (May 1), Sunflowers (May 15), Beans (May 22), Pole Beans (May 22). Transplant from: Calendula (May 1), Swiss Chard (May 1), Bok Choy (May 8), Cauliflower (May 8), Cosmos (May 15), Lavender (May 15), +26 more. Last frost around May 15. |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 5). Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 2), Celery (Jun 2), Melons (Jun 2), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 4), Tomato (Jun 7), Watermelon (Jun 7), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 1), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 6), Pole Beans (Jul 6), Basil (Jul 11), Cosmos (Jul 11), Cucumber (Jul 11), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 5), Carrots (Aug 5), Beets (Aug 6), Dill (Aug 6), Swiss Chard (Aug 6), Calendula (Aug 11), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 4), Spinach (Sep 4), Radish (Sep 5). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 7). First frost around October 7. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 28). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Alpena, MI (ZIP 49707)?
The median last spring frost date for Alpena, MI (ZIP code 49707) is around May 15. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 29; one in ten it runs past May 30.
What is the first fall frost date in Alpena, MI?
The median first fall frost date for Alpena, MI is around October 7. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 24 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Alpena, MI?
The frost-free growing season in Alpena is about 145 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Alpena (145 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Alpena, MI?
Alpena, MI is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Alpena, MI?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 10 and plant out May 29 in Alpena. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Alpena?
Two: plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 14.
When do I plant garlic in Alpena?
Oct 7 to Oct 28; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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