Marquette, MI planting zone & frost dates
Marquette is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost usually comes around May 8 and the first fall frost around October 21, for a growing season of about 164 days.
Planting calendar for Marquette
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 8) 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 13 – Mar 27 Transplant outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: May 22 – May 29 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: May 22 – May 29 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 Transplant outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 26 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 21).
Useful for zone 5b 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 26 | May 8 | May 23 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 5 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 23, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 6. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 27.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Marquette
- 49855 zone 5b
Nearby cities
- Escanaba zone 5a, last frost May 13
- Traverse City zone 6a, last frost May 9
- Cadillac zone 5a, last frost May 19
- Sault Ste. Marie zone 5a, last frost May 9
- 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
Questions
What growing zone is Marquette, MI?
Marquette is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average extreme winter low -15°F to -10°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Marquette?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Marquette is May 8. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 23.
When can I plant tomatoes in Marquette?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 15 – May 22. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Marquette, MI (USW00014838), 1.3 km (0.8 mi) from the city center, elevation 203 m, based on 27 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.