Frost Dates for Ionia, MI 48846
Last spring frost May 11 · First fall frost October 4 · 146 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 48846 has about 21,600 people.
Moderate season: 146 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 24–May 28 (34 days). Fall frost risk spans September 18–October 17 (29 days).
Frost probability for 48846
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 28 | May 11 | April 24 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 18 | October 4 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at HASTINGS (42.6 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 146-day season in Ionia
In Ionia (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 6 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | Jun 4 |
| Pepper | Mar 30 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | Jun 9 |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 181 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 13 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 188 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 20. | Aug 2 |
| Cucumber | Apr 20 | May 25–Jun 1 | 118 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 118 available after May 25. | Jul 8 |
| Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 18. | Jul 15 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16–May 25 | 209 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 209 available after Mar 16. | Jul 24 |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 25. | Jul 13 |
| Onion | Feb 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 181 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 16–May 4 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Oct 25. | Sep 1 |
| Kale | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 25. | Aug 17 |
| Broccoli | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 181 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 13. | Jul 9 |
| Cabbage | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 195 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 13. | Aug 2 |
| Radish | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 2; both mature before Oct 11. | Sep 2 |
| Beets | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 3 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27–May 4 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after Apr 27. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 4 | 251 | overwinter: Plant Oct 4 to Oct 25; harvest the following summer. | Oct 25 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 6–Jun 1 | 202 | 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 | 118 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 118 available after May 18. | Jun 16 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 27 | May 25–May 25 | 111 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 111 available after May 25. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30 | May 4–May 18 | 160 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 160 available after May 4. | Jul 14 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 16 | Apr 27–Apr 27 | 167 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 3 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 223 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Oct 25. | Sep 1 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 195 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 13. | Jul 3 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 111 available after May 25. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 23 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | Jun 14 |
| Okra | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 13; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 13 |
| Basil | Apr 6 | Jun 1–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 111 available after Jun 1. | Jul 8 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 13–May 4 | 181 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 8 |
| Parsley | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 146 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 146 available after May 18. | Jul 19 |
| Celery | Mar 2 | May 18–Jun 1 | 146 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 146 available after May 18. | May 30 |
| Scallions | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 25. | Aug 12 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 25. | Aug 22 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 30–Apr 13 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 25. | Aug 17 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 13 | May 4–May 11 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 13 |
| Collards | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 195 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 25. | Aug 12 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | May 30 |
| Chives | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 18. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 209 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 3 |
| Oregano | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 160 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 160 available after May 18. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 146 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 146 available after May 18. | — |
| Sage | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 160 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 160 available after May 18. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 18. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 167 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 11. | Aug 8 |
| Cosmos | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 11. | Jul 8 |
| Lavender | Feb 16 | May 11–May 25 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after May 11. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 30 | May 11–May 18 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 18; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 18 |
| Melons | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | May 30 |
| Mint | — | May 11–May 25 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after May 11. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 13 | May 11–May 18 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 13; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 13 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 125 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 125 available after May 18. | Jul 3 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 111 available after May 25. | Jun 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 11–May 25 | 132 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 132 available after May 11. | Jun 28 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after May 18. | Jun 9 |
| Watermelon | Apr 27 | May 18–May 25 | 111 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 111 available after May 18. | Jun 4 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 25. | Jul 13 |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 132 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 132 available after May 11. | Jul 8 |
Month by month in Ionia
| 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 30), Celery (May 30), Melons (May 30). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 1). Last sowing dates: Spaghetti Squash (Jun 1), Tomato (Jun 4), Watermelon (Jun 4), Pepper (Jun 9), Tomatillos (Jun 9), Eggplant (Jun 14), +2 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 3), Pole Beans (Jul 3), Basil (Jul 8), Cosmos (Jul 8), Cucumber (Jul 8), Zinnias (Jul 8), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 2), Carrots (Aug 2), Beets (Aug 3), Dill (Aug 3), Swiss Chard (Aug 3), Calendula (Aug 8), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 1), Spinach (Sep 1), Radish (Sep 2). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 4). First frost around October 4. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 25). |
| 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 Ionia, MI (ZIP 48846)?
The median last spring frost date for Ionia, MI (ZIP code 48846) 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 Ionia, MI?
The median first fall frost date for Ionia, MI is around October 4. 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 18 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Ionia, MI?
The frost-free growing season in Ionia 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 Ionia (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 Ionia, MI?
Ionia, 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 Ionia, MI?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 6 and plant out May 25 in Ionia. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Ionia?
Two: plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 11.
When do I plant garlic in Ionia?
Oct 4 to Oct 25; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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