Frost Dates for Fenton, MI 48430
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost October 11 · 161 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 48430 has about 39,300 people.
Moderate season: 161 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 17 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 26–October 27 (31 days).
Frost probability for 48430
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 17 | May 3 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 26 | October 11 | October 27 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at MILFORD GM PROVING GROUND (20.4 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 161-day season in Fenton
In Fenton (161 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jun 11 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jun 16 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 20 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 203 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 203 available after Apr 12. | Aug 9 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 17. | Jul 15 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 22 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 224 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 224 available after Mar 8. | Jul 31 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 20 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 238 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 8; both mature before Nov 1. | Sep 8 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Nov 1. | Aug 24 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 5. | Jul 16 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 210 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 210 available after Apr 5. | Aug 9 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 9; both mature before Oct 18. | Sep 9 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 11 | 266 | overwinter: Plant Oct 11 to Nov 1; harvest the following summer. | Nov 1 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 217 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 133 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 133 available after May 10. | Jun 23 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 126 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 126 available after May 17. | May 29 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 175 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 175 available after Apr 26. | Jul 21 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 238 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 8; both mature before Nov 1. | Sep 8 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 210 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 210 available after Apr 5. | Jul 10 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 126 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 126 available after May 17. | May 29 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jun 21 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 140 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 20 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 126 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 126 available after May 24. | Jul 15 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 15 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 161 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | Jul 26 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 161 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | Jun 6 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Nov 1. | Aug 19 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Nov 1. | Aug 29 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Nov 1. | Aug 24 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 175 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 20 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Nov 1. | Aug 19 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jun 6 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 175 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 175 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 175 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 175 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 161 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 175 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 175 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 175 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 175 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 15 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 15 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 25 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jun 6 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 20 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 140 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 140 available after May 10. | Jul 10 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 126 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 126 available after May 17. | Jun 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 147 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 147 available after May 3. | Jul 5 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 126 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 126 available after May 10. | Jun 16 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 126 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 126 available after May 10. | Jun 11 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 20 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 27. | Jul 15 |
Month by month in Fenton
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 29), Pumpkin (May 29). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 6), Celery (Jun 6), Melons (Jun 6), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 8), Tomato (Jun 11), Watermelon (Jun 11), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 5), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 10), Pole Beans (Jul 10), Basil (Jul 15), Cosmos (Jul 15), Cucumber (Jul 15), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 9), Carrots (Aug 9), Beets (Aug 10), Dill (Aug 10), Swiss Chard (Aug 10), Calendula (Aug 15), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 8), Spinach (Sep 8), Radish (Sep 9). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 11). First frost around October 11. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 1). |
| 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 Fenton, MI (ZIP 48430)?
The median last spring frost date for Fenton, MI (ZIP code 48430) is around May 3. 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 19; one in ten it runs past May 17.
What is the first fall frost date in Fenton, MI?
The median first fall frost date for Fenton, MI is around October 11. 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 26 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Fenton, MI?
The frost-free growing season in Fenton is about 161 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 Fenton (161 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Fenton, MI?
Fenton, MI is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (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 Fenton, MI?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Fenton. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Fenton?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 18.
When do I plant garlic in Fenton?
Oct 11 to Nov 1; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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