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

Planting zone for Howell, MI

Howell, MI is in USDA zone 6a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 7.

Howell on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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 codes3
Last frostMay 4
First frostOct 7
Growing season156 days

6a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Howell, 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 Howell, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Howell Wwtp, MI, elevation 919 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 Howell

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 48844 came on Apr 1 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 Howell, MI.

Soil in Howell, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48844 is Ottokee — loamy sand, moderately well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Ottokee loamy sand, 0 to 2 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 48844; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Howell, MI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,543base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 14 °F 31°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 15 °F 35°15° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.12 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 2.1❄10 JanFebruary: 1.64 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 1.6❄8 FebMarch: 2.04 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 2.0❄4 MarApril: 2.92 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.9❄1 AprMay: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.43 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.4❄1 NovDecember: 2.02 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 2.0❄9 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Howell

488436a
−10 to −5 °F
488446a
−10 to −5 °F
488556a
−10 to −5 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Howell

What planting zone is Howell, MI?

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

When is the last frost in Howell, MI?

The median last spring frost is May 4 and the median first fall frost is October 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Howell Wwtp station).

When can I plant a garden in Howell, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 23 – Apr 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Howell, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Howell, MI get?

About 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).