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

Planting zone for 48470 — Ruth, MI

ZIP code 48470 (Ruth, Huron County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 48470 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 2
First frostOct 24
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Ruth, 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 Ruth, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Harbor Beach 1 Sse, MI — 9 miles away, elevation 594 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 48470

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 48470 came on Apr 15 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 Ruth, MI.

Soil in Ruth, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48470 is Kilmanagh — loam, poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Kilmanagh loam.

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 48470; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ruth, MI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,081base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall47 inper year; 85 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 29 °F, low 16 °F 29°16° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 23 °F 39°23° MarApril: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 44 °F 61°44° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 54 °F 71°54° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 60 °F 77°60° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 59 °F 76°59° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 52 °F 70°52° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 42 °F 58°42° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 32 °F 45°32° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 23 °F 34°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.40 in precipitation, 15.4 in snowfall 2.4❄15 JanFebruary: 2.05 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 2.0❄11 FebMarch: 1.90 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 1.9❄6 MarApril: 3.60 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.64 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.6❄2 NovDecember: 2.27 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 2.3❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Harbor Beach 1 Sse, MI (9 mi away); precipitation: Harbor Beach 1 Sse, MI (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

484566a
Minden City, MI · 5 mi
484416a
Harbor Beach, MI · 5 mi
484656a
Palms, MI · 9 mi
484346a
Forestville, MI · 9 mi
484756a
Ubly, MI · 10 mi
484136a
Bad Axe, MI · 13 mi
484686a
Port Hope, MI · 14 mi
484276a
Deckerville, MI · 14 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48470

What planting zone is ZIP code 48470?

ZIP code 48470 (Ruth, 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 Ruth, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48470 is May 2; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harbor Beach 1 Sse station.

When is the first frost in Ruth, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48470 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 173 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48470?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48470 get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year and 47 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harbor Beach 1 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Ruth, MI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48470 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kilmanagh at the center of ZIP 48470: loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Ruth, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48470 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ruth, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48470 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48470 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48470 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.