Grand Rapids, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Grand Rapids is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 174 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 29
- Typical first frost
- October 20
- Frost-free season
- 174 days
Frost dates in Grand Rapids
Last spring frost
- April 14Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 20Typical: 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 174 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 16 and returns around November 2.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Grand Rapids, 7.9 miles SE of the city center and 138 feet higher. 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 Grand Rapids
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, green onions, 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, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips
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 Grand Rapids
All 8 of Grand Rapids's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Grand Rapids, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49503 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49504 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49505 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49506 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49507 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49508 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49525 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 49546 | 6a | Grand Rapids, 7.9 mi SE | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
Grand Rapids also supplies the frost dates for Wyoming and Kentwood, so their planting calendars match Grand Rapids's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Grand Rapids
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 21 to Aug 25 |
| Cilantro | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Basil | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Onions | Jan 7 to Feb 18 | Apr 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 3 to 31 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 14 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Peas | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Spinach | Mar 18 to 25 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 29 to May 20 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 8 to Nov 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 8 to Oct 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Wyoming, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Kentwood, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Kalamazoo, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Battle Creek, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Lansing, MI zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Elkhart, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Grand Rapids
Questions
When is the last frost in Grand Rapids?
Around April 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Grand Rapids. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 15.
What planting zone is Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids?
Start seeds indoors March 24 to April 7 and set plants out May 19 to June 2.
When is the first frost in Grand Rapids?
Around October 20 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.