Frost dates for Big Rapids, MI
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 13
typical year
Safe to plant
May 28
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 2
typical year
Growing season
142 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 15 – 29 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 1 – 22 | Aug 7 – 21 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 15 – May 6 | Aug 7 – 21 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 15 – May 27 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Onions | – | Apr 15 – 29 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 22 – May 6 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jul 10 – 24 |
| Beets | – | Apr 15 – 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Kale | Mar 4 – 18 | Apr 15 – 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Broccoli | Mar 4 – 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Cabbage | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 15 – 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 21 – Sep 11 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 2 – 16 | May 28 – Jun 11 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 4 – 18 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 28 – Jun 18 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 28 – Jun 25 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 28 – Jun 18 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 28 – Jul 24 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 28 – Jun 25 | – |
| Basil | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jun 4 – 11 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | May 28 | May 13 | April 28 |
| Fall frost before | September 18 | October 2 | October 16 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around April 30 (May 17 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 13.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 9 towns.
Big Rapids, Reed City, Evart, Baldwin, Morley, Mecosta, Barryton, Hersey, Stanwood
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station BIG RAPIDS WTP, MI US (USC00200779), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 16 zip codes, all within 20 miles:
49305, 49307, 49312, 49320, 49332, 49336, 49338, 49342, 49346, 49349, 49623, 49631, 49639, 49642, 49677, 49679
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.