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

Planting zone for 48195 — Southgate, MI

ZIP code 48195 (Southgate, Wayne County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 48195 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 20
First frostOct 27
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Southgate, 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 Southgate, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Detroit Metro Airport, MI — 7 miles away, elevation 630 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 48195

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 48195 came on Mar 26 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 Southgate, MI.

Soil in Southgate, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48195 is Riverfront — sandy loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6.67%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Riverfront complex, dense substratum, 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 48195; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Southgate, MI

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,114base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 57 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 32 °F, low 19 °F 32°19° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 44 °F 62°44° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 25 °F 37°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.51 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 2.5❄14 JanFebruary: 2.15 in precipitation, 17 in snowfall 2.1❄17 FebMarch: 2.67 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 2.7❄8 MarApril: 3.36 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 3.4❄2 AprMay: 4.14 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MayJune: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.75 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 2.8❄2 NovDecember: 2.52 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 2.5❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Detroit Metro Airport, MI (7 mi away); precipitation: Wyandotte, MI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

481936b
Riverview, MI · 2 mi
481926b
Wyandotte, MI · 3 mi
481466b
Lincoln Park, MI · 3 mi
481806b
Taylor, MI · 3 mi
481216b
Dearborn, MI · 4 mi
481236b
Dearborn, MI · 4 mi
481366b
Garden City, MI · 4 mi
482226b
Detroit, MI · 4 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48195

What planting zone is ZIP code 48195?

ZIP code 48195 (Southgate, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Southgate, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48195 is April 20; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Detroit Metro Airport station.

When is the first frost in Southgate, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48195 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48195?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48195 get?

About 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wyandotte station).

How hot do summers get in Southgate, MI?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48195 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Riverfront at the center of ZIP 48195: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 8.0 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Southgate, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48195 came on Mar 26 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Southgate, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48195 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).