Escanaba, MI planting zone & frost dates
Escanaba is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost usually comes around May 13 and the first fall frost around October 7, for a growing season of about 147 days.
Planting calendar for Escanaba
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 13) 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 18 – Apr 1 Transplant outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 Transplant outdoors: May 27 – Jun 3 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 Transplant outdoors: May 27 – Jun 3 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 Transplant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 Transplant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Apr 1 – Apr 15 Transplant outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 12 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 7).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 30 | May 13 | May 31 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 20 | Oct 7 | Sep 26 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 31, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 26. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 30.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Escanaba
- 49829 zone 5a
Nearby cities
- Marquette zone 5b, last frost May 8
- Traverse City zone 6a, last frost May 9
- Cadillac zone 5a, last frost May 19
- Big Rapids zone 5b, last frost May 13
- Muskegon zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Muskegon Heights zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Norton Shores zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
- Grand Haven zone 6b, last frost Apr 30
Questions
What growing zone is Escanaba, MI?
Escanaba is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average extreme winter low -20°F to -15°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Escanaba?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Escanaba is May 13. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 31.
When can I plant tomatoes in Escanaba?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 20 – May 27. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Escanaba, MI (USW00014824), 3.8 km (2.4 mi) from the city center, elevation 180 m, based on 14 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.