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

Planting zone for 49611 — Alba, MI

ZIP code 49611 (Alba, Antrim County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 49611 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 23
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alba, 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 Alba, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 10 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Boyne Falls, MI — 13 miles away, elevation 728 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 49611

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 49611 came on Apr 20 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 Alba, MI.

Soil in Alba, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49611 is Kalkaska — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter85%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kalkaska-Blue Lake sands, 6 to 18 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 49611; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alba, MI

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, February
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,556base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall112 inper year; 108 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 28 °F, low 14 °F 28°14° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 22 °F 33°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.65 in precipitation, 32 in snowfall 2.6❄32 JanFebruary: 1.67 in precipitation, 20.4 in snowfall 1.7❄20 FebMarch: 1.89 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 1.9❄11 MarApril: 3.06 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.1❄5 AprMay: 3.19 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 MayJune: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.44 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 4.4❄1 OctNovember: 3.31 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 3.3❄11 NovDecember: 2.68 in precipitation, 31.2 in snowfall 2.7❄31 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Boyne Falls, MI (13 mi away); precipitation: Boyne Falls, MI (13 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.

496595a
Mancelona, MI · 6 mi
497305a
Elmira, MI · 7 mi
496155b
Bellaire, MI · 11 mi
497275b
East Jordan, MI · 13 mi
496125b
Alden, MI · 14 mi
497355a
Gaylord, MI · 15 mi
497345a
Gaylord, MI · 15 mi
497125b
Boyne City, MI · 16 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49611

What planting zone is ZIP code 49611?

ZIP code 49611 (Alba, 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 Alba, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49611 is May 23; after June 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boyne Falls station.

When is the first frost in Alba, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49611 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49611?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49611 get?

About 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 112 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Boyne Falls station).

How hot do summers get in Alba, MI?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49611 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kalkaska at the center of ZIP 49611: slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

Did spring come early in Alba, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49611 came on Apr 20 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alba, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49611 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 49611 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 49611 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.