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

Planting zone for 48160 — Milan, MI

ZIP code 48160 (Milan, Monroe County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 48160 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 frostApr 26
First frostOct 19
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 Milan, 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 Milan, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Milan Wwtp, MI — within 1 mile, elevation 679 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 48160

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 48160 came on Mar 31 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 Milan, MI.

Soil in Milan, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48160 is Wasepi — sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wasepi sandy loam, 0 to 4 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 48160; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Milan, MI

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights137nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,886base 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)
Precipitation35.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 17 °F 32°17° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 24 °F 36°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 JanFebruary: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 2.23 in precipitation 2.2 MarApril: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.74 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

481106a
Azalia, MI · 5 mi
481906a
Whittaker, MI · 5 mi
481916a
Willis, MI · 6 mi
481596a
Maybee, MI · 8 mi
481976a
Ypsilanti, MI · 8 mi
481316a
Dundee, MI · 8 mi
481766a
Saline, MI · 9 mi
492296a
Britton, MI · 10 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48160

What planting zone is ZIP code 48160?

ZIP code 48160 (Milan, 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 Milan, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48160 is April 26; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Milan Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Milan, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48160 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48160?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48160 get?

About 35.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Milan Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Milan, MI?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48160 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wasepi at the center of ZIP 48160: sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Milan, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48160 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Milan, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48160 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).