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

Planting zone for 49795 — Vanderbilt, MI

ZIP code 49795 (Vanderbilt, Otsego County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is June 7 and the first fall frost September 14.

Where ZIP 49795 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 7
First frostSep 14
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 Vanderbilt, 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 Vanderbilt, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 14median — 10% chance by Aug 24
Growing season95 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 24 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Vanderbilt 11ene, MI — 7 miles away, elevation 906 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 49795

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 17 – May 31
LettuceSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 21 – Jul 5
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 20 – Aug 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 31 – Oct 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 7) and first fall frost (Sep 14) 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 49795 came on Apr 20 — 3 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 Vanderbilt, MI.

Soil in Vanderbilt, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49795 is Blue Lake — sand, well drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately 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 49795; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vanderbilt, MI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, February
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights200nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,737base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 45 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 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 6 °F 28°6° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 13 °F 39°13° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 26 °F 52°26° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 38 °F 67°38° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 51 °F 80°51° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 42 °F 70°42° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 17 °F 31°17° 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: Vanderbilt 11ene, MI (7 mi away); precipitation: Vanderbilt 11ene, MI (7 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.

497994b
Wolverine, MI · 7 mi
497345a
Gaylord, MI · 10 mi
497355a
Gaylord, MI · 12 mi
497135a
Boyne Falls, MI · 14 mi
497054b
Afton, MI · 14 mi
497515a
Johannesburg, MI · 14 mi
497305a
Elmira, MI · 16 mi
497494b
Indian River, MI · 18 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49795

What planting zone is ZIP code 49795?

ZIP code 49795 (Vanderbilt, 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 Vanderbilt, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49795 is June 7; after June 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vanderbilt 11ene station.

When is the first frost in Vanderbilt, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49795 is September 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 95 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49795?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 12 – Apr 26 and set transplants outside around Jun 14 – Jun 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49795 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 Vanderbilt, MI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49795 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Blue Lake at the center of ZIP 49795: sand, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Vanderbilt, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49795 came on Apr 20 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Vanderbilt, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49795 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 49795 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 49795 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.