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

Planting zone for 49635 — Frankfort, MI

ZIP code 49635 (Frankfort, Benzie County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 26.

Where ZIP 49635 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 26
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Frankfort, 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 Frankfort, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Frankfort 2ne, MI — 2 miles away, elevation 948 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 49635

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 49635 came on Apr 16 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 6b in Michigan

582 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 221

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 175

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 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Frankfort, MI.

Soil in Frankfort, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49635 is Fogg — sand, well drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Fogg-Benzonia sands, 12 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 49635; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Frankfort, MI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights138nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,257base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall93 inper year; 107 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 19 °F 29°19° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 19 °F 31°19° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 60 °F 77°60° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 61 °F 76°61° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 54 °F 69°54° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 43 °F 56°43° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 33 °F 44°33° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 24 °F 34°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.19 in precipitation, 27.2 in snowfall 2.2❄27 JanFebruary: 1.72 in precipitation, 19.4 in snowfall 1.7❄19 FebMarch: 1.98 in precipitation, 12.8 in snowfall 2.0❄13 MarApril: 3.06 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.1❄3 AprMay: 3.08 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.1 MayJune: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.99 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.0 OctNovember: 2.94 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 2.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.23 in precipitation, 23.5 in snowfall 2.2❄24 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

496286b
Elberta, MI · 2 mi
496166b
Benzonia, MI · 6 mi
496176a
Beulah, MI · 8 mi
496136b
Arcadia, MI · 8 mi
496406b
Honor, MI · 10 mi
496146a
Bear Lake, MI · 13 mi
496836a
Thompsonville, MI · 14 mi
496306b
Empire, MI · 17 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49635

What planting zone is ZIP code 49635?

ZIP code 49635 (Frankfort, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Frankfort, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49635 is May 2; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Frankfort 2ne station.

When is the first frost in Frankfort, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49635 is October 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49635?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49635 get?

About 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 93 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Frankfort 2ne station).

How hot do summers get in Frankfort, MI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49635 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fogg at the center of ZIP 49635: sand, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Frankfort, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49635 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Frankfort, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49635 is 15 h 34 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).