Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Benton Harbor, MI

Benton Harbor, MI is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 15.

Benton Harbor on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 15
Growing season161 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Benton Harbor, MI…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Benton Harbor, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Benton Harbor Airport, MI, elevation 627 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Benton Harbor

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 15) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 49023 came on Mar 30 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6b in Michigan

582 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 58

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 105

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 221

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 175

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Benton Harbor, MI.

Soil in Benton Harbor, MI

The center of ZIP 49023 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 49023; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Benton Harbor, MI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,955base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall78 inper year; 41 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 20 °F 33°20° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 44 °F 63°44° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 25 °F 38°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.46 in precipitation, 29.5 in snowfall 2.5❄30 JanFebruary: 1.89 in precipitation, 18.8 in snowfall 1.9❄19 FebMarch: 2.26 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 2.3❄8 MarApril: 3.76 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.40 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.4 OctNovember: 3.01 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.0❄4 NovDecember: 2.33 in precipitation, 16.6 in snowfall 2.3❄17 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Benton Harbor Airport, MI (within 1 mile); precipitation: Benton Harbor Airport, MI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Benton Harbor

490226b
−5 to 0 °F
490236b
−5 to 0 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Benton Harbor

What planting zone is Benton Harbor, MI?

Benton Harbor, MI is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Benton Harbor, MI?

The median last spring frost is May 5 and the median first fall frost is October 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Benton Harbor Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Benton Harbor, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 24 – Apr 14; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Benton Harbor, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Benton Harbor, MI get?

About 38.2 inches of precipitation a year and 78 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).