Grand Rapids, Michigan frost dates
Frost risk by date
| Chance of frost | Spring: frost after | Fall: frost before |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | April 14 | November 2 |
| 70% | April 22 | October 26 |
| 50% | April 29 | October 20 |
| 30% | May 4 | October 13 |
| 10% | May 15 | October 4 |
Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 15. These are NOAA probabilities for the Grand Rapids weather station (USW00094860, elevation 237 m), 1991–2020.
Grand Rapids vegetable planting calendar
Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 29). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 15) is the cautious choice.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Apr 8 | May 6 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Broccoli | Feb 18 | Apr 1 |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 18 | Apr 1 |
| Cabbage | Feb 11 | Mar 25 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 4 | Apr 15 |
| Sweet corn | Apr 1 | Apr 29 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Cucumbers | Apr 15 | May 6 |
| Kale | Feb 11 | Mar 25 |
| Leeks | Jan 14 | Mar 25 |
| Lettuce | Mar 11 | Apr 15 |
| Melons | Apr 22 | May 13 |
| Onions | Jan 7 | Mar 18 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time) |
| Peas | Mar 4 | Apr 1 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Peppers | Mar 18 | May 13 |
| Squash | Apr 22 | May 13 |
| Tomatoes | Mar 4 | Apr 29 |
Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.
Fall frost and season extension
The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 20. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 4. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 2.
Nearby cities
| City | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing, MI | May 1 | Oct 13 | ~80 km |
| Milwaukee, WI | Apr 19 | Oct 29 | ~192 km |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 20 | Oct 27 | ~194 km |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 22 | Oct 24 | ~203 km |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Oct 21 | ~215 km |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 16 | Oct 28 | ~218 km |
More: all Michigan frost dates