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

Planting zone for 48720 — Bay Port, MI

ZIP code 48720 (Bay Port, Huron County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 48720 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 8
First frostOct 17
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 Bay Port, 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 Bay Port, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Filion 5nnw, MI — 17 miles away, elevation 637 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 48720

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 48720 came on Apr 15 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 Bay Port, MI.

Soil in Bay Port, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48720 is Aquents — sand, very poorly drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Aquents and Histosols, ponded.

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 48720; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bay Port, MI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, February
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights151nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,146base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.1 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 28 °F, low 15 °F 28°15° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 14 °F 29°14° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 23 °F 39°23° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 31 °F 45°31° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 22 °F 33°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 JanFebruary: 1.79 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 1.91 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Filion 5nnw, MI (17 mi away); precipitation: Filion 5nnw, MI (17 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

487596a
Sebewaing, MI · 7 mi
487556a
Pigeon, MI · 8 mi
487546a
Owendale, MI · 10 mi
487256a
Caseville, MI · 12 mi
487316a
Elkton, MI · 12 mi
487356a
Gagetown, MI · 13 mi
487676a
Unionville, MI · 13 mi
487016a
Akron, MI · 19 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48720

What planting zone is ZIP code 48720?

ZIP code 48720 (Bay Port, 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 Bay Port, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48720 is May 8; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Filion 5nnw station.

When is the first frost in Bay Port, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48720 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48720?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48720 get?

About 34.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Filion 5nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Bay Port, MI?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48720 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Aquents at the center of ZIP 48720: sand, very poorly drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Bay Port, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48720 came on Apr 15 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bay Port, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48720 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).