Frost dates for Rudyard, 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
June 1
typical year
Safe to plant
June 20
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 21
typical year
Growing season
110 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 | – | May 4 – 18 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 20 – May 11 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Lettuce | – | May 4 – 25 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Radishes | – | May 4 – Jun 15 | Aug 10 – 24 |
| Onions | – | May 4 – 18 | – |
| Potatoes | – | May 11 – 25 | – |
| Carrots | – | May 11 – Jun 1 | Jun 29 – Jul 13 |
| Beets | – | May 4 – 18 | Jul 13 – 27 |
| Kale | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 4 – 18 | Jul 13 – 27 |
| Broccoli | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 13 – 27 |
| Cabbage | Mar 9 – 23 | May 4 – 18 | Jul 13 – 27 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 10 – 31 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 25 – May 9 | Jun 20 – Jul 4 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 18 – May 2 | Jun 27 – Jul 11 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 20 – Jul 11 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 20 – Jul 18 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 20 – Jul 13 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 20 – Jul 18 | – |
| Basil | May 16 – 30 | Jun 27 – Jul 4 | – |
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 | June 20 | June 1 | May 18 |
| Fall frost before | September 6 | September 21 | October 5 |
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 May 19 (June 2 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 3.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station RUDYARD 5SE, MI US (USC00207188), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 12 miles:
49745, 49752, 49784
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.