Kalamazoo, MI planting zone & frost dates
Kalamazoo is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost usually comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 18, for a growing season of about 172 days.
Planting calendar for Kalamazoo
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 28) 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 3 – Mar 17 Transplant outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: May 12 – May 19 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: May 12 – May 19 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 Transplant outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 23 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 18).
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 13 | Apr 28 | May 13 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 1 | Oct 18 | Oct 2 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 13, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 2. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 17.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Kalamazoo
- 49001 zone 6a
- 49003 zone 6a
- 49004 zone 6a
- 49005 zone 6a
- 49006 zone 6a
- 49007 zone 6a
- 49008 zone 6a
- 49009 zone 6a
- 49019 zone 6a
- 49048 zone 6a
Nearby cities
- Portage zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Battle Creek zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Sturgis zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Cutlerville zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Kentwood zone 6a, last frost May 6
- Wyoming zone 6a, last frost May 6
- Grandville zone 6a, last frost May 6
- Jenison zone 6a, last frost May 6
Questions
What growing zone is Kalamazoo, MI?
Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Kalamazoo is April 28. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 13.
When can I plant tomatoes in Kalamazoo?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 5 – May 12. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Kalamazoo Battle Ck Intl Ap, MI (USW00094815), 7.0 km (4.3 mi) from the city center, elevation 265 m, based on 20 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.