Battle Creek, MI planting zone & frost dates
Battle Creek is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost usually comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 19, for a growing season of about 170 days.
Planting calendar for Battle Creek
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 30) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 Transplant outdoors: May 7 – May 14 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19 – Mar 5 Transplant outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19 – Mar 5 Transplant outdoors: May 14 – May 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19 – Mar 5 Transplant outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19 – Mar 5 Transplant outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 7 – May 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 7 – May 14 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 7 – May 14 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 7 – May 14 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 Transplant outdoors: May 7 – May 14 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 24 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 19).
Useful for zone 6a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | May 17 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 2 | Oct 19 | Oct 3 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 17, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 3. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 19.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Battle Creek
- 49014 zone 6a
- 49015 zone 6a
- 49016 zone 6a
- 49017 zone 6a
- 49018 zone 6a
- 49037 zone 6a
Nearby cities
- Kalamazoo zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Coldwater zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Portage zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Sturgis zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Ionia zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Waverly zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Forest Hills zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Cutlerville zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
Questions
What growing zone is Battle Creek, MI?
Battle Creek is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average extreme winter low -10°F to -5°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Battle Creek?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Battle Creek is April 30. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 17.
When can I plant tomatoes in Battle Creek?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 7 – May 14. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Battle Creek Kellogg Ap, MI (USW00014815), 6.1 km (3.8 mi) from the city center, elevation 283 m, based on 21 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.