Frost Dates for Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Last spring frost May 11 · First fall frost October 5 · 147 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 49546 has about 34,700 people, one of 12 ZIP codes in Grand Rapids.
Moderate season: 147 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 24–May 28 (34 days). Fall frost risk spans September 22–October 17 (25 days).
Frost probability for 49546
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 28 | May 11 | April 24 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 22 | October 5 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at HASTINGS (37.7 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 147-day season in Grand Rapids
In Grand Rapids (147 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 6 | May 25–Jun 1 | 105 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 105 available after May 25. | Jun 5 |
| Pepper | Mar 30 | May 25–Jun 1 | 105 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 105 available after May 25. | Jun 10 |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 14 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 189 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 189 available after Apr 20. | Aug 3 |
| Cucumber | Apr 20 | May 25–Jun 1 | 119 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 119 available after May 25. | Jul 9 |
| Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 18. | Jul 16 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16–May 25 | 210 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 210 available after Mar 16. | Jul 25 |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 25. | Jul 14 |
| Onion | Feb 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 182 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 16–May 4 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 2; both mature before Oct 26. | Sep 2 |
| Kale | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 18 |
| Broccoli | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 182 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 13. | Jul 10 |
| Cabbage | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 196 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 13. | Aug 3 |
| Radish | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Oct 12. | Sep 3 |
| Beets | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 4 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27–May 4 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after Apr 27. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 5 | 252 | overwinter: Plant Oct 5 to Oct 26; harvest the following summer. | Oct 26 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 6–Jun 1 | 203 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 6; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 119 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 119 available after May 18. | Jun 17 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 27 | May 25–May 25 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 25. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30 | May 4–May 18 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 4. | Jul 15 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 16 | Apr 27–Apr 27 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 4 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 2; both mature before Oct 26. | Sep 2 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 196 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 13. | Jul 4 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 25. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 23 | May 25–Jun 1 | 105 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 105 available after May 25. | Jun 15 |
| Okra | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 126 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 21. | Jul 14 |
| Basil | Apr 6 | Jun 1–Jun 1 | 112 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 112 available after Jun 1. | Jul 9 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 13–May 4 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 9 |
| Parsley | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 147 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 147 available after May 18. | Jul 20 |
| Celery | Mar 2 | May 18–Jun 1 | 147 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 147 available after May 18. | May 31 |
| Scallions | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 13 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 23; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 23 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 30–Apr 13 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 18 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 13 | May 4–May 11 | 161 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 14 |
| Collards | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 26. | Aug 13 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 25. | May 31 |
| Chives | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 18. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 4 |
| Oregano | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 161 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 161 available after May 18. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 147 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 147 available after May 18. | — |
| Sage | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 18. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 18. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 12. | Aug 9 |
| Cosmos | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 11. | Jul 9 |
| Lavender | Feb 16 | May 11–May 25 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 11. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 30 | May 11–May 18 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Sep 21. | Jul 19 |
| Melons | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 25. | May 31 |
| Mint | — | May 11–May 25 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 11. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 13 | May 11–May 18 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 21. | Jul 14 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 126 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 126 available after May 18. | Jul 4 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 112 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 112 available after May 25. | Jun 2 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 11–May 25 | 133 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 133 available after May 11. | Jun 29 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 112 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 112 available after May 18. | Jun 10 |
| Watermelon | Apr 27 | May 18–May 25 | 112 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 112 available after May 18. | Jun 5 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 25. | Jul 14 |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 11. | Jul 9 |
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 16), Lavender (Feb 16), Onion (Feb 16), Rosemary (Feb 16). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 2), Collards (Mar 2), Kale (Mar 2), Oregano (Mar 2), Parsley (Mar 2), Scallions (Mar 2), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 16), Beets (Mar 16), Dill (Mar 16), Peas (Mar 16), Radish (Mar 16), Spinach (Mar 16), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 6), Tomato (Apr 6), Bok Choy (Apr 13), Corn (Apr 13), Cosmos (Apr 13), Nasturtiums (Apr 13), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 13), Turnip (Apr 13), Carrots (Apr 20), Potatoes (Apr 27). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 13), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 13), Cabbage (Apr 13), Collards (Apr 13), Kale (Apr 13), Lettuce (Apr 13), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 6). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 11), Beans (May 18), Pole Beans (May 18). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 4), Cauliflower (May 4), Cosmos (May 11), Lavender (May 11), Marigolds (May 11), Mint (May 11), +24 more. Last frost around May 11. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 31), Celery (May 31), Melons (May 31). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 1). Last sowing dates: Spaghetti Squash (Jun 2), Tomato (Jun 5), Watermelon (Jun 5), Pepper (Jun 10), Tomatillos (Jun 10), Eggplant (Jun 15), +2 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 4), Pole Beans (Jul 4), Basil (Jul 9), Cosmos (Jul 9), Cucumber (Jul 9), Zinnias (Jul 9), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 3), Carrots (Aug 3), Beets (Aug 4), Dill (Aug 4), Swiss Chard (Aug 4), Calendula (Aug 9), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 2), Spinach (Sep 2), Radish (Sep 3). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 5). First frost around October 5. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 26). |
| 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 49546)?
The median last spring frost date for Grand Rapids, MI (ZIP code 49546) is around May 11. 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 24; one in ten it runs past May 28.
What is the first fall frost date in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median first fall frost date for Grand Rapids, MI is around October 5. 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 22 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 147 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 (147 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 6 and plant out May 25 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 13 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 12.
When do I plant garlic in Grand Rapids?
Oct 5 to Oct 26; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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