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

Planting zone for 49751 — Johannesburg, MI

ZIP code 49751 (Johannesburg, Otsego County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 49751 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 11
First frostOct 6
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Johannesburg, 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 Johannesburg, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Atlanta 5 Wnw, MI — 10 miles away, elevation 1,181 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 49751

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 49751 came on Apr 19 — 4 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 5a in Michigan

551 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 54

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 207

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 166

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 Johannesburg, MI.

Soil in Johannesburg, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49751 is Ossineke — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Ossineke fine sandy loam, sandy substratum, 6 to 12 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 49751; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Johannesburg, MI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,978base 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)
Precipitation32.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall84 inper year; 128 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 24 °F, low 12 °F 24°12° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 12 °F 26°12° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 37 °F 55°37° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 28 °F 41°28° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 19 °F 31°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.18 in precipitation, 25.9 in snowfall 2.2❄26 JanFebruary: 1.49 in precipitation, 15.3 in snowfall 1.5❄15 FebMarch: 1.78 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 1.8❄11 MarApril: 3.06 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 3.1❄6 AprMay: 2.92 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.9 MayJune: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.52 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.5❄1 OctNovember: 2.42 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 2.4❄7 NovDecember: 2.15 in precipitation, 17.5 in snowfall 2.1❄18 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Atlanta 5 Wnw, MI (10 mi away); precipitation: Vanderbilt 11ene, MI (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

497355a
Gaylord, MI · 12 mi
497345a
Gaylord, MI · 12 mi
497095a
Atlanta, MI · 13 mi
497975a
Waters, MI · 14 mi
497565a
Lewiston, MI · 14 mi
497955a
Vanderbilt, MI · 14 mi
497335a
Frederic, MI · 20 mi
497385a
Grayling, MI · 22 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49751

What planting zone is ZIP code 49751?

ZIP code 49751 (Johannesburg, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Johannesburg, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49751 is May 11; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Atlanta 5 Wnw station.

When is the first frost in Johannesburg, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49751 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49751?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49751 get?

About 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 84 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vanderbilt 11ene station).

How hot do summers get in Johannesburg, MI?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49751 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ossineke at the center of ZIP 49751: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Johannesburg, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49751 came on Apr 19 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Johannesburg, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49751 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).