Kalamazoo, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Kalamazoo is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 18, giving about 172 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 28
- Typical first frost
- October 18
- Frost-free season
- 172 days
Frost dates in Kalamazoo
Last spring frost
- April 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 18Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 172 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 17 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 2.1 miles SSE 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 Kalamazoo
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: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
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 Kalamazoo
All 7 of Kalamazoo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49001 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 2.1 mi SSE | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| 49002 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 2.6 mi N | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| 49004 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 7.9 mi S | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| 49006 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 5.8 mi SE | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| 49007 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 5 mi SSE | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| 49008 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 3.7 mi ESE | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| 49048 | 6a | Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, 4.1 mi SW | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Kalamazoo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Jul 19 to Aug 23 |
| Cilantro | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Onions | Jan 6 to Feb 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| 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 7 to 28 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 10 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Spinach | Mar 17 to 24 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 28 to May 19 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 6 to Nov 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 6 to Oct 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Sep 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Battle Creek, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Kentwood, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Wyoming, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Elkhart, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Grand Rapids, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Mishawaka, IN zone 6a, last frost May 1
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Kalamazoo
Questions
When is the last frost in Kalamazoo?
Around April 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 13.
What planting zone is Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Kalamazoo?
Around October 18 in a typical year, and before October 2 about 1 year in 10.