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

Planting zone for 48014 — Capac, MI

ZIP code 48014 (Capac, St. Clair County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 48014 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostOct 5
2012 zone6a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Capac, 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 Capac, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Yale 1 Nnw, MI — 11 miles away, elevation 820 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 48014

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 48014 came on Apr 11 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 Capac, MI.

Soil in Capac, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48014 is Blount — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Blount loam, 2 to 6 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 48014; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Capac, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, February
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,190base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall41 inper year; 63 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 56 °F 82°56° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.86 in precipitation, 13 in snowfall 1.9❄13 JanFebruary: 1.62 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 1.6❄10 FebMarch: 1.86 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 1.9❄6 MarApril: 3.04 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 3.0❄2 AprMay: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.81 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.8 OctNovember: 2.40 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 2.4❄2 NovDecember: 2.03 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 2.0❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Yale 1 Nnw, MI (11 mi away); precipitation: Yale 1 Nnw, MI (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

484446a
Imlay City, MI · 6 mi
480026a
Allenton, MI · 6 mi
480226a
Emmett, MI · 7 mi
480976a
Yale, MI · 8 mi
480036a
Almont, MI · 9 mi
480416a
Memphis, MI · 9 mi
480056a
Armada, MI · 12 mi
484126a
Attica, MI · 13 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48014

What planting zone is ZIP code 48014?

ZIP code 48014 (Capac, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Capac, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48014 is May 12; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yale 1 Nnw station.

When is the first frost in Capac, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48014 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48014?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48014 get?

About 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yale 1 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Capac, MI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48014 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Blount at the center of ZIP 48014: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Capac, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48014 came on Apr 11 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Capac, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48014 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).