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

Planting zone for 48809 — Belding, MI

ZIP code 48809 (Belding, Ionia County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 48809 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 18
First frostSep 28
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 Belding, 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 Belding, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Greenville 2 Nne, MI — 9 miles away, elevation 883 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 48809

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 48809 came on Mar 31 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 Belding, MI.

Soil in Belding, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48809 is Mancelona — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Mancelona-Chelsea loamy sands, 0 to 2 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 48809; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Belding, MI

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,506base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall73 inper year; 73 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 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 13 °F 34°13° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 22 °F 46°22° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.23 in precipitation, 20.3 in snowfall 2.2❄20 JanFebruary: 1.94 in precipitation, 16.5 in snowfall 1.9❄17 FebMarch: 2.43 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 2.4❄9 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.9❄3 AprMay: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 3.54 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 2.98 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 3.0❄5 NovDecember: 2.37 in precipitation, 18.8 in snowfall 2.4❄19 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Greenville 2 Nne, MI (9 mi away); precipitation: Greenville 2 Nne, MI (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

488876a
Smyrna, MI · 1 mi
488386a
Greenville, MI · 7 mi
488656a
Orleans, MI · 8 mi
493316a
Lowell, MI · 10 mi
488816a
Saranac, MI · 10 mi
493176a
Cannonsburg, MI · 11 mi
488466a
Ionia, MI · 12 mi
488346a
Fenwick, MI · 12 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48809

What planting zone is ZIP code 48809?

ZIP code 48809 (Belding, 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 Belding, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48809 is May 18; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Greenville 2 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Belding, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48809 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48809?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48809 get?

About 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 73 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Greenville 2 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Belding, MI?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48809 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mancelona at the center of ZIP 48809: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Belding, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48809 came on Mar 31 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Belding, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48809 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48809 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48809 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.