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

Planting zone for East Lansing, MI

East Lansing, MI is in USDA zone 6a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 17.

East Lansing on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 28
First frostOct 17
Growing season173 days

6a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for East Lansing, 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 East Lansing, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station East Lansing 4 S, MI, elevation 879 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 East Lansing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 48826 came on Apr 1 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 6a in Michigan

580 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 220

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 174

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 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °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 East Lansing, MI.

Soil in East Lansing, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48826 is Marlette — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Marlette complex, 2 to 12 percent slopes.

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 48826; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in East Lansing, MI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,868base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 18 °F 32°18° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 24 °F 37°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.08 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 2.1❄14 JanFebruary: 1.60 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 1.6❄7 FebMarch: 1.68 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 1.7❄4 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.5❄1 AprMay: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.12 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.1 OctNovember: 2.55 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.5❄2 NovDecember: 1.60 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 1.6❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: East Lansing 4 S, MI (4 mi away); precipitation: East Lansing 4 S, MI (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in East Lansing

488236a
−10 to −5 °F
488246a
−10 to −5 °F
488256a
−10 to −5 °F
488266a
−10 to −5 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about East Lansing

What planting zone is East Lansing, MI?

East Lansing, MI is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in East Lansing, MI?

The median last spring frost is April 28 and the median first fall frost is October 17 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, East Lansing 4 S station).

When can I plant a garden in East Lansing, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 17 – Apr 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in East Lansing, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does East Lansing, MI get?

About 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).