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

Planting zone for 49896 — Wilson, MI

ZIP code 49896 (Wilson, Menominee County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 49896 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 13
First frostOct 7
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 Wilson, 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 Wilson, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Escanaba, MI — 14 miles away, elevation 591 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 49896

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 49896 came on Apr 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24).

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 Wilson, MI.

Soil in Wilson, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49896 is Sundell — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter7.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sundell-Ensign loams, 0 to 3 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 49896; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wilson, MI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights175nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,718base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

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 8 °F 28°8° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° MarApril: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° AprMay: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 37 °F 55°37° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 16 °F 31°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.35 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.96 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Escanaba, MI (14 mi away); precipitation: Spalding 0.5 Nw, MI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

498455a
Harris, MI · 2 mi
498075a
Bark River, MI · 5 mi
498865a
Spalding, MI · 5 mi
498745a
Powers, MI · 6 mi
498125a
Carney, MI · 9 mi
498635a
Nadeau, MI · 9 mi
498735a
Perronville, MI · 11 mi
498475a
Hermansville, MI · 12 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49896

What planting zone is ZIP code 49896?

ZIP code 49896 (Wilson, 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 Wilson, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49896 is May 13; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Escanaba station.

When is the first frost in Wilson, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49896 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49896?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49896 get?

About 31.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spalding 0.5 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Wilson, MI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49896 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sundell at the center of ZIP 49896: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Wilson, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49896 came on Apr 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wilson, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49896 is 15 h 43 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).