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

Planting zone for 49761 — Mullett Lake, MI

ZIP code 49761 (Mullett Lake, Cheboygan 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 11.

Where ZIP 49761 is

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 11
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 Mullett 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 Mullett Lake, 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 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Cheboygan, MI — 7 miles away, elevation 587 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 49761

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 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 49761 came on Apr 25 — about the same time as 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 Mullett Lake, MI.

Soil in Mullett Lake, MI

The center of ZIP 49761 is mapped as Water: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 49761; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mullett Lake, MI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, February
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,935base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 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)
Precipitation32 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall88 inper year; 107 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 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 10 °F 29°10° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° MarApril: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 39 °F 56°39° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 30 °F 44°30° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 21 °F 33°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.80 in precipitation, 24.2 in snowfall 1.8❄24 JanFebruary: 1.32 in precipitation, 18.1 in snowfall 1.3❄18 FebMarch: 1.76 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 1.8❄12 MarApril: 2.78 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 2.8❄5 AprMay: 2.88 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.9 MayJune: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.09 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.1❄1 OctNovember: 2.60 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 2.6❄6 NovDecember: 2.08 in precipitation, 22 in snowfall 2.1❄22 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cheboygan, MI (7 mi away); precipitation: Cheboygan, MI (7 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.

497215a
Cheboygan, MI · 3 mi
497914b
Topinabee, MI · 7 mi
497494b
Indian River, MI · 10 mi
497164b
Brutus, MI · 12 mi
497175a
Burt Lake, MI · 12 mi
497755b
Pointe Aux Pins, MI · 15 mi
497054b
Afton, MI · 15 mi
497065a
Alanson, MI · 15 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49761

What planting zone is ZIP code 49761?

ZIP code 49761 (Mullett Lake, 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 Mullett Lake, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49761 is May 11; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cheboygan station.

When is the first frost in Mullett Lake, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49761 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49761?

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 49761 get?

About 32 inches of precipitation a year and 88 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cheboygan station).

How hot do summers get in Mullett Lake, MI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

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

Spring leaf-out near 49761 came on Apr 25 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mullett Lake, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49761 is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).