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

Planting zone for 49343 — Sand Lake, MI

ZIP code 49343 (Sand Lake, Kent County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 49343 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 14
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 Sand Lake, 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 Sand Lake, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Kent City 2 Sw, MI — 14 miles away, elevation 840 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 49343

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
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 14) 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 49343 came on Apr 10 — 4 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 Sand Lake, MI.

Soil in Sand Lake, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49343 is Onekama — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Onekama loam, Saginaw Lobe, 2 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 49343; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sand Lake, MI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,454base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall48 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.65 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 2.6❄14 JanFebruary: 1.84 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 1.8❄8 FebMarch: 2.59 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 2.6❄6 MarApril: 3.82 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 4.06 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.1 OctNovember: 3.46 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 3.5❄4 NovDecember: 2.50 in precipitation, 15 in snowfall 2.5❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kent City 2 Sw, MI (14 mi away); precipitation: Kent City 2 Sw, MI (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

493395b
Pierson, MI · 3 mi
493196a
Cedar Springs, MI · 5 mi
493295b
Howard City, MI · 8 mi
493475b
Trufant, MI · 9 mi
493225b
Coral, MI · 10 mi
493266a
Gowen, MI · 11 mi
493306a
Kent City, MI · 11 mi
493416a
Rockford, MI · 12 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49343

What planting zone is ZIP code 49343?

ZIP code 49343 (Sand Lake, 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 Sand Lake, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49343 is May 14; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kent City 2 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Sand Lake, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49343 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49343?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49343 get?

About 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kent City 2 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Sand Lake, MI?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49343 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Onekama at the center of ZIP 49343: loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sand Lake, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49343 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sand Lake, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49343 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 49343 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 49343 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.