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

Planting zone for 48831 — Elsie, MI

ZIP code 48831 (Elsie, Clinton County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 48831 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 frostApr 28
First frostOct 24
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 Elsie, 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 Elsie, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Saint Johns, MI — 11 miles away, elevation 745 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 48831

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
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 (Apr 28) 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 48831 came on Apr 4 — 8 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 Elsie, MI.

Soil in Elsie, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48831 is Metamora — sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3.1%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Metamora-Conover complex, 0 to 3 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 48831; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elsie, MI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights144nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,891base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 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

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 18 °F 31°18° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 24 °F 36°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.07 in precipitation 2.1 JanFebruary: 1.80 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 1.93 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saint Johns, MI (11 mi away); precipitation: Saint Johns, MI (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

488076a
Bannister, MI · 4 mi
488416a
Henderson, MI · 7 mi
488666a
Ovid, MI · 7 mi
488336a
Eureka, MI · 7 mi
486496a
Oakley, MI · 9 mi
488066a
Ashley, MI · 9 mi
488676a
Owosso, MI · 11 mi
486146a
Brant, MI · 11 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48831

What planting zone is ZIP code 48831?

ZIP code 48831 (Elsie, 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 Elsie, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48831 is April 28; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Johns station.

When is the first frost in Elsie, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48831 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48831?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside around May 5 – May 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48831 get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Johns station).

How hot do summers get in Elsie, MI?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48831 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Metamora at the center of ZIP 48831: sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Elsie, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48831 came on Apr 4 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elsie, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48831 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).