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

Planting zone for 48641 — Midland, MI

ZIP code 48641 (Midland, Midland County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 48641 is

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 15
First frostSep 29
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 Midland, 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 Midland, 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 plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Oil City 2s, MI — 11 miles away, 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 48641

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 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 48641 came on Apr 11 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Midland, MI.

Soil in Midland, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48641 is Kingsville — moderately decomposed plant material, poorly drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter65%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kingsville loamy fine sand.

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 48641; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Midland, MI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,145base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 20 °F 34°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 JanFebruary: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 FebMarch: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oil City 2s, MI (11 mi away); precipitation: Midland, MI (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

486406a
Midland, MI · 4 mi
486866a
Midland, MI · 8 mi
486676a
Midland, MI · 9 mi
486376a
Merrill, MI · 9 mi
486156a
Breckenridge, MI · 9 mi
486706a
Midland, MI · 9 mi
486626a
Wheeler, MI · 10 mi
486746a
Midland, MI · 11 mi

All 7 ZIP codes in Midland → · Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48641

What planting zone is ZIP code 48641?

ZIP code 48641 (Midland, 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 Midland, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48641 is May 15; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oil City 2s station.

When is the first frost in Midland, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48641 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48641?

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 48641 get?

About 33.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Midland station).

How hot do summers get in Midland, MI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48641 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kingsville at the center of ZIP 48641: moderately decomposed plant material, poorly drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Midland, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48641 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Midland, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48641 is 15 h 26 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48641 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48641 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.