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

Planting zone for 49919 — Covington, MI

ZIP code 49919 (Covington, Baraga County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 49919 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 17
First frostSep 30
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Covington, 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 Covington, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Covington 1nnw, MI — 6 miles away, elevation 1,611 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 49919

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 49919 came on May 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

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 4a in Michigan

443 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

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 78

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 168

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 136

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Covington, MI.

Soil in Covington, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49919 is Champion — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Champion-Net-Michigamme complex, rocky, 0 to 8 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 49919; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Covington, MI

Summer high76 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights193nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,644base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.8 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 21 °F, low 5 °F 21°5° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 6 °F 25°6° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 15 °F 37°15° MarApril: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° SepOctober: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° OctNovember: average high 38 °F, low 24 °F 38°24° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 12 °F 26°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 JanFebruary: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 1.93 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 NovDecember: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Covington 1nnw, MI (6 mi away); precipitation: Covington 1nnw, 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.

499704b
Watton, MI · 8 mi
499034a
Amasa, MI · 12 mi
498614a
Michigamme, MI · 13 mi
499614b
Sidnaw, MI · 13 mi
499465a
Lanse, MI · 16 mi
499085a
Baraga, MI · 18 mi
498794a
Republic, MI · 21 mi
499585a
Pelkie, MI · 23 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49919

What planting zone is ZIP code 49919?

ZIP code 49919 (Covington, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Covington, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49919 is May 17; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Covington 1nnw station.

When is the first frost in Covington, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49919 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49919?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49919 get?

About 30.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Covington 1nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Covington, MI?

The average high peaks at 76 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49919 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Champion at the center of ZIP 49919: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Covington, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49919 came on May 1 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Covington, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49919 is 15 h 50 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).