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

Planting zone for 49788 — Kincheloe, MI

ZIP code 49788 (Kincheloe, Chippewa County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is June 1 and the first fall frost September 21.

Where ZIP 49788 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 frostJun 1
First frostSep 21
2012 zone4b

Was 4b 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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kincheloe, 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 Kincheloe, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 21median — 10% chance by Sep 6
Growing season110 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 19 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Rudyard 5se, MI — 6 miles away, elevation 666 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 49788

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 4 – May 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 11 – May 25
LettuceSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 8 – Jun 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 15 – Jun 29
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 8 – Jun 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 8 – Jun 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 8 – Jun 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 27 – Aug 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 7 – Oct 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 1) and first fall frost (Sep 21) 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 49788 came on May 3 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (May 1).

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 Kincheloe, MI.

Soil in Kincheloe, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49788 is Liminga — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rousseau, dark subsoil-Urban land complex, 0 to 4 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 49788; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kincheloe, MI

Summer high76 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights201nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,411base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 5 °F 23°5° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 5 °F 26°5° FebMarch: average high 35 °F, low 11 °F 35°11° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 JanFebruary: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 FebMarch: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 AprMay: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 MayJune: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 2.38 in precipitation 2.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rudyard 5se, MI (6 mi away); precipitation: Rudyard 5se, MI (6 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.

497845a
Kincheloe, MI · <1 mi
497524b
Kinross, MI · 2 mi
497244b
Dafter, MI · 6 mi
497855a
Kincheloe, MI · 6 mi
497744b
Pickford, MI · 11 mi
497804b
Rudyard, MI · 11 mi
497865a
Kincheloe, MI · 12 mi
497834b
Sault Sainte Marie, MI · 14 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in Kincheloe → · Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49788

What planting zone is ZIP code 49788?

ZIP code 49788 (Kincheloe, 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 Kincheloe, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49788 is June 1; after June 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rudyard 5se station.

When is the first frost in Kincheloe, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49788 is September 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 110 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49788?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 6 – Apr 20 and set transplants outside around Jun 8 – Jun 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49788 get?

About 34.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rudyard 5se station).

How hot do summers get in Kincheloe, MI?

The average high peaks at 76 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49788 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Liminga at the center of ZIP 49788: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Kincheloe, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49788 came on May 3 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (May 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Kincheloe, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49788 is 15 h 47 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 49788 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 49788 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.