Battle Creek, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Battle Creek is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 170 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 30
- Typical first frost
- October 19
- Frost-free season
- 170 days
Frost dates in Battle Creek
Last spring frost
- April 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 2Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 170 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 19 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Battle Creek Kellogg Airport, 2.3 miles NNW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Battle Creek
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Battle Creek
Battle Creek's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 30 in 49014 to May 6 in 49017. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49014 | 6a | Battle Creek Kellogg Airport, 7.4 mi W | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| 49015 | 6a | Battle Creek Kellogg Airport, 2.3 mi NNW | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| 49017 | 6a | Battle Creek 5nw, 3.6 mi WSW | May 6 | Oct 12 |
| 49034 | 6a | Battle Creek Kellogg Airport, 6.5 mi NE | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| 49037 | 6a | Battle Creek Kellogg Airport, 1.9 mi S | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Battle Creek
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Cilantro | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
| Onions | Jan 8 to Feb 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 27 to Aug 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 7 to Nov 2 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 7 to Oct 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 7 to 21 |
Nearby cities
- Kalamazoo, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Kentwood, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Lansing, MI zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Wyoming, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Grand Rapids, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Elkhart, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Battle Creek
Questions
When is the last frost in Battle Creek?
Around April 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Battle Creek Kellogg Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 17.
What planting zone is Battle Creek in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Battle Creek?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Battle Creek?
Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 3 about 1 year in 10.