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

Planting zone for 49740 — Harbor Springs, MI

ZIP code 49740 (Harbor Springs, Emmet County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 49740 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 15
First frostOct 16
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 Harbor Springs, 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 Harbor Springs, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Cross Village 1e, MI — 8 miles away, elevation 722 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 49740

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 49740 came on Apr 23 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26).

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 Harbor Springs, MI.

Soil in Harbor Springs, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49740 is Blue Lake — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Blue Lake loamy sand, 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 49740; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Harbor Springs, MI

Summer high74 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, February
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,809base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall80 inper year; 110 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 13 °F 27°13° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° MarApril: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 57 °F 74°57° JulAugust: average high 74 °F, low 57 °F 74°57° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 51 °F 67°51° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 41 °F 55°41° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 31 °F 43°31° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 22 °F 33°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.79 in precipitation, 20.9 in snowfall 1.8❄21 JanFebruary: 1.23 in precipitation, 16.9 in snowfall 1.2❄17 FebMarch: 1.90 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 1.9❄10 MarApril: 2.90 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 2.9❄6 AprMay: 3.04 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.0 MayJune: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.39 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.4 OctNovember: 2.92 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 2.9❄6 NovDecember: 2.23 in precipitation, 20.2 in snowfall 2.2❄20 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cross Village 1e, MI (8 mi away); precipitation: Cross Village 1e, MI (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

497695a
Pellston, MI · 7 mi
497375b
Good Hart, MI · 7 mi
497235b
Cross Village, MI · 8 mi
497225b
Conway, MI · 9 mi
497645a
Oden, MI · 10 mi
497555a
Levering, MI · 12 mi
497164b
Brutus, MI · 12 mi
497065a
Alanson, MI · 12 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49740

What planting zone is ZIP code 49740?

ZIP code 49740 (Harbor Springs, 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 Harbor Springs, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49740 is May 15; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cross Village 1e station.

When is the first frost in Harbor Springs, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49740 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49740?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49740 get?

About 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 80 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cross Village 1e station).

How hot do summers get in Harbor Springs, MI?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49740 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Blue Lake at the center of ZIP 49740: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Harbor Springs, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49740 came on Apr 23 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Harbor Springs, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49740 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 49740 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 49740 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.