Frost Dates for Manistee, MI 49660
Last spring frost May 14 · First fall frost October 8 · 147 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6b
ZIP 49660 has about 14,600 people.
Moderate season: 147 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 28–May 29 (31 days). Fall frost risk spans September 18–October 29 (41 days).
Frost probability for 49660
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 29 | May 14 | April 28 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 18 | October 8 | October 29 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at MANISTEE 3SE (7.0 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 147-day season in Manistee
In Manistee (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 9 | May 28–Jun 4 | 105 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 105 available after May 28. | Jun 8 |
| Pepper | Apr 2 | May 28–Jun 4 | 105 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 105 available after May 28. | Jun 13 |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 189 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 189 available after Apr 23. | Aug 6 |
| Cucumber | Apr 23 | May 28–Jun 4 | 119 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 119 available after May 28. | Jul 12 |
| Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 21. | Jul 19 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19–May 28 | 210 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 210 available after Mar 19. | Jul 28 |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 28. | Jul 17 |
| Onion | Feb 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 182 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 16. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 19–May 7 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Kale | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Broccoli | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 182 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 16. | Jul 13 |
| Cabbage | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 196 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 16. | Aug 6 |
| Radish | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Oct 15. | Sep 6 |
| Beets | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 30–May 7 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after Apr 30. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 8 | 252 | overwinter: Plant Oct 8 to Oct 29; harvest the following summer. | Oct 29 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 9–Jun 4 | 203 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 9; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 119 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 119 available after May 21. | Jun 20 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 30 | May 28–May 28 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 28. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 2 | May 7–May 21 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 7. | Jul 18 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 19 | Apr 30–Apr 30 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 19 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 196 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 16. | Jul 7 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 28. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 26 | May 28–Jun 4 | 105 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 105 available after May 28. | Jun 18 |
| Okra | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 126 | two-plantings: Plant May 21 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Basil | Apr 9 | Jun 4–Jun 4 | 112 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 112 available after Jun 4. | Jul 12 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 16–May 7 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Parsley | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 147 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 147 available after May 21. | Jul 23 |
| Celery | Mar 5 | May 21–Jun 4 | 147 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 147 available after May 21. | Jun 3 |
| Scallions | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 26 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 2–Apr 16 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 2 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 16 | May 7–May 14 | 161 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Collards | Mar 5 | Apr 16–Apr 30 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 28. | Jun 3 |
| Chives | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 21. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 19–Jun 11 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 19 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Oregano | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 161 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 161 available after May 21. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 19 | May 21–May 28 | 147 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 147 available after May 21. | — |
| Sage | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 21. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 5 | May 21–May 28 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 21. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Cosmos | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 14. | Jul 12 |
| Lavender | Feb 19 | May 14–May 28 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 14. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 2 | May 14–May 21 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 22 |
| Melons | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 28. | Jun 3 |
| Mint | — | May 14–May 28 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 14. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 16 | May 14–May 21 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 14 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 21–Jun 4 | 126 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 126 available after May 21. | Jul 7 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 112 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 112 available after May 28. | Jun 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 14–May 28 | 133 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 133 available after May 14. | Jul 2 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 112 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 112 available after May 21. | Jun 13 |
| Watermelon | Apr 30 | May 21–May 28 | 112 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 112 available after May 21. | Jun 8 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 30 | May 28–Jun 4 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 28. | Jul 17 |
| Zinnias | Apr 16 | May 14–May 28 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 14. | Jul 12 |
Month by month in Manistee
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 19), Lavender (Feb 19), Onion (Feb 19), Rosemary (Feb 19). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 5), Collards (Mar 5), Kale (Mar 5), Oregano (Mar 5), Parsley (Mar 5), Scallions (Mar 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 19), Beets (Mar 19), Dill (Mar 19), Peas (Mar 19), Radish (Mar 19), Spinach (Mar 19). |
| April | Start indoors: Calendula (Apr 2), Cauliflower (Apr 2), Marigolds (Apr 2), Pepper (Apr 2), Basil (Apr 9), Tomato (Apr 9), +15 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 2), Cilantro (Apr 16), Turnip (Apr 16), Carrots (Apr 23), Potatoes (Apr 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 16), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 16), Cabbage (Apr 16), Collards (Apr 16), Kale (Apr 16), Lettuce (Apr 16), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 9). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 14), Beans (May 21), Pole Beans (May 21). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 7), Cauliflower (May 7), Cosmos (May 14), Lavender (May 14), Marigolds (May 14), Mint (May 14), +24 more. Last frost around May 14. |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 4). Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 3), Celery (Jun 3), Melons (Jun 3), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 5), Tomato (Jun 8), Watermelon (Jun 8), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 2), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 7), Pole Beans (Jul 7), Basil (Jul 12), Cosmos (Jul 12), Cucumber (Jul 12), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 6), Carrots (Aug 6), Beets (Aug 7), Dill (Aug 7), Swiss Chard (Aug 7), Calendula (Aug 12), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 5), Spinach (Sep 5), Radish (Sep 6). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 8). First frost around October 8. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 29). |
| 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 Manistee, MI (ZIP 49660)?
The median last spring frost date for Manistee, MI (ZIP code 49660) is around May 14. 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 28; one in ten it runs past May 29.
What is the first fall frost date in Manistee, MI?
The median first fall frost date for Manistee, MI is around October 8. 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 Manistee, MI?
The frost-free growing season in Manistee 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 Manistee (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 Manistee, MI?
Manistee, MI is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (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 Manistee, MI?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 9 and plant out May 28 in Manistee. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Manistee?
Two: plant Apr 16 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15.
When do I plant garlic in Manistee?
Oct 8 to Oct 29; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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