Frost dates for Gaylord, 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 12
typical year
Safe to plant
May 29
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 7
typical year
Growing season
147 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 14 – 28 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Aug 12 – 26 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 14 – May 5 | Aug 12 – 26 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 14 – May 26 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Onions | – | Apr 14 – 28 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 21 – May 5 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 21 – May 12 | Jul 15 – 29 |
| Beets | – | Apr 14 – 28 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Kale | Mar 3 – 17 | Apr 14 – 28 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Broccoli | Mar 3 – 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Cabbage | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 14 – 28 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 26 – Sep 16 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 3 – 17 | May 29 – Jun 12 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Jun 5 – 19 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 29 – Jun 19 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 29 – Jun 26 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 29 – Jun 19 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 29 – Jul 29 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 29 – Jun 26 | – |
| Basil | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 5 – 12 | – |
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 29 | May 12 | April 27 |
| Fall frost before | September 24 | October 7 | October 22 |
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 22.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station GAYLORD 9SSW, MI US (USC00203099), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 8 miles:
49733
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.