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

Planting zone for 49329 — Howard City, MI

ZIP code 49329 (Howard City, Montcalm County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 49329 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 18
First frostSep 28
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Howard City, 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 Howard City, 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 — 19 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 49329

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 49329 came on Apr 10 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Howard City, MI.

Soil in Howard City, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49329 is Plainfield — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Plainfield-Spinks sands, 0 to 6 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 49329; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Howard City, 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 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall64 inper year

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: 2.49 in precipitation, 17.6 in snowfall 2.5❄18 JanFebruary: 1.97 in precipitation, 12.7 in snowfall 2.0❄13 FebMarch: 2.28 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 2.3❄7 MarApril: 3.69 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 3.7❄3 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 4.11 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.1❄1 OctNovember: 2.87 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 2.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.68 in precipitation, 16.8 in snowfall 2.7❄17 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Greenville 2 Nne, MI (19 mi away); precipitation: White Cloud 9e, MI (11 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.

493395b
Pierson, MI · 5 mi
493436a
Sand Lake, MI · 8 mi
493365b
Morley, MI · 8 mi
493225b
Coral, MI · 8 mi
493475b
Trufant, MI · 10 mi
493375b
Newaygo, MI · 11 mi
493196a
Cedar Springs, MI · 12 mi
488505b
Lakeview, MI · 13 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49329

What planting zone is ZIP code 49329?

ZIP code 49329 (Howard City, 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 Howard City, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49329 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 Howard City, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49329 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49329?

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 49329 get?

About 36.7 inches of precipitation a year and 64 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Cloud 9e station).

How hot do summers get in Howard City, 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 49329 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Plainfield at the center of ZIP 49329: sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Howard City, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49329 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Howard City, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49329 is 15 h 25 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).