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

Planting zone for 48610 — Alger, MI

ZIP code 48610 (Alger, Ogemaw County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 48610 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alger, 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 Alger, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station W Branch 3se, MI — 8 miles away, elevation 886 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 48610

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 48610 came on Apr 15 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 5b in Michigan

564 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 103

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 212

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 170

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 7

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Alger, MI.

Soil in Alger, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48610 is Roscommon — sand, poorly drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter9.5%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Roscommon soils.

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 48610; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alger, MI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,090base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall53 inper year; 95 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 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 10 °F 30°10° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.05 in precipitation, 14.7 in snowfall 2.0❄15 JanFebruary: 1.61 in precipitation, 11.7 in snowfall 1.6❄12 FebMarch: 1.83 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 1.8❄7 MarApril: 3.40 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 3.4❄3 AprMay: 3.48 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 3.31 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.3 OctNovember: 2.55 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 2.5❄4 NovDecember: 2.15 in precipitation, 12.6 in snowfall 2.1❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: W Branch 3se, MI (8 mi away); precipitation: W Branch 3se, MI (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

486595b
Sterling, MI · 9 mi
486615a
West Branch, MI · 12 mi
487565a
Prescott, MI · 13 mi
486135b
Bentley, MI · 14 mi
486245b
Gladwin, MI · 14 mi
487495b
Omer, MI · 16 mi
487665b
Twining, MI · 17 mi
486585b
Standish, MI · 17 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48610

What planting zone is ZIP code 48610?

ZIP code 48610 (Alger, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Alger, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48610 is May 15; after May 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Branch 3se station.

When is the first frost in Alger, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48610 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48610?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48610 get?

About 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 53 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, W Branch 3se station).

How hot do summers get in Alger, MI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48610 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Roscommon at the center of ZIP 48610: sand, poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Alger, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48610 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alger, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48610 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48610 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48610 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.