Frost Dates for Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Grand Rapids has 12 ZIP codes. The Grand Rapids, MI frost page lists all of them with their dates.
Last spring frost May 10 · First fall frost October 3 · 146 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 49505 has about 32,400 people, one of 12 ZIP codes in Grand Rapids.
Moderate season: 146 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 22–May 27 (35 days). Fall frost risk spans September 20–October 17 (27 days).
Frost probability for 49505
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 27 | May 10 | April 22 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 20 | October 3 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at ALLEGAN 5NE (48.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 146-day season in Grand Rapids
In Grand Rapids (146 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 5 | May 24–May 31 | 104 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 104 available after May 24. | Jun 3 |
| Pepper | Mar 29 | May 24–May 31 | 104 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 104 available after May 24. | Jun 8 |
| Lettuce | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 181 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 188 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 19. | Aug 1 |
| Cucumber | Apr 19 | May 24–May 31 | 118 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 118 available after May 24. | Jul 7 |
| Beans | — | May 17–May 31 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 17. | Jul 14 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15–May 24 | 209 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 209 available after Mar 15. | Jul 23 |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 24. | Jul 12 |
| Onion | Feb 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 181 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 12. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 15–May 3 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Kale | Mar 1 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Broccoli | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 181 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 12. | Jul 8 |
| Cabbage | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 195 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 12. | Aug 1 |
| Radish | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Oct 10. | Sep 1 |
| Beets | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 26–May 3 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after Apr 26. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 3 | 251 | overwinter: Plant Oct 3 to Oct 24; harvest the following summer. | Oct 24 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 5–May 31 | 202 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 5; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | Jun 15 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 26 | May 24–May 24 | 111 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 111 available after May 24. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 29 | May 3–May 17 | 160 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 160 available after May 3. | Jul 13 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 15 | Apr 26–Apr 26 | 167 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 195 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 12. | Jul 2 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 111 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 111 available after May 24. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 22 | May 24–May 31 | 104 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 104 available after May 24. | Jun 13 |
| Okra | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Basil | Apr 5 | May 31–May 31 | 111 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 111 available after May 31. | Jul 7 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 12–May 3 | 181 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Parsley | Mar 1 | May 17–May 24 | 146 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 146 available after May 17. | Jul 18 |
| Celery | Mar 1 | May 17–May 31 | 146 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 146 available after May 17. | May 29 |
| Scallions | Mar 1 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 21 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 29–Apr 12 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 29 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 12 | May 3–May 10 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Collards | Mar 1 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 104 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 104 available after May 24. | May 29 |
| Chives | Feb 15 | May 17–May 24 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 17. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Oregano | Mar 1 | May 17–May 24 | 160 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 160 available after May 17. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 15 | May 17–May 24 | 146 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 146 available after May 17. | — |
| Sage | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 160 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 160 available after May 17. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 1 | May 17–May 24 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 17. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 29 | Apr 26–May 10 | 167 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Cosmos | Apr 12 | May 10–May 24 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 10. | Jul 7 |
| Lavender | Feb 15 | May 10–May 24 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after May 10. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 29 | May 10–May 17 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 17 |
| Melons | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 104 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 104 available after May 24. | May 29 |
| Mint | — | May 10–May 24 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after May 10. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 12 | May 10–May 17 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 17–May 31 | 125 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 125 available after May 17. | Jul 2 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 111 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 111 available after May 24. | May 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 10–May 24 | 132 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 132 available after May 10. | Jun 27 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | Jun 8 |
| Watermelon | Apr 26 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | Jun 3 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 24. | Jul 12 |
| Zinnias | Apr 12 | May 10–May 24 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 10. | Jul 7 |
Month by month in Grand Rapids
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 15), Lavender (Feb 15), Onion (Feb 15), Rosemary (Feb 15). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 1), Collards (Mar 1), Kale (Mar 1), Oregano (Mar 1), Parsley (Mar 1), Scallions (Mar 1), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 15), Beets (Mar 15), Dill (Mar 15), Peas (Mar 15), Radish (Mar 15), Spinach (Mar 15), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 5), Tomato (Apr 5), Bok Choy (Apr 12), Corn (Apr 12), Cosmos (Apr 12), Nasturtiums (Apr 12), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 12), Turnip (Apr 12), Carrots (Apr 19), Potatoes (Apr 26). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 12), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 12), Cabbage (Apr 12), Collards (Apr 12), Kale (Apr 12), Lettuce (Apr 12), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 5). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 10), Beans (May 17), Pole Beans (May 17). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 3), Cauliflower (May 3), Cosmos (May 10), Lavender (May 10), Marigolds (May 10), Mint (May 10), +25 more. Last frost around May 10. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 29), Celery (May 29), Melons (May 29), Spaghetti Squash (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 3), Watermelon (Jun 3), Pepper (Jun 8), Tomatillos (Jun 8), Eggplant (Jun 13), Corn (Jun 15), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 2), Pole Beans (Jul 2), Basil (Jul 7), Cosmos (Jul 7), Cucumber (Jul 7), Zinnias (Jul 7), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 1), Carrots (Aug 1), Beets (Aug 2), Dill (Aug 2), Swiss Chard (Aug 2), Calendula (Aug 7), +10 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Radish (Sep 1). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 3). First frost around October 3. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 24). |
| 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 Grand Rapids, MI (ZIP 49505)?
The median last spring frost date for Grand Rapids, MI (ZIP code 49505) is around May 10. 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 22; one in ten it runs past May 27.
What is the first fall frost date in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median first fall frost date for Grand Rapids, MI is around October 3. 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 20 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Grand Rapids, MI?
The frost-free growing season in Grand Rapids is about 146 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 Grand Rapids (146 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 Grand Rapids, MI?
Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 5 and plant out May 24 in Grand Rapids. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Grand Rapids?
Two: plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10.
When do I plant garlic in Grand Rapids?
Oct 3 to Oct 24; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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