When to plant in Cadillac, MI
USDA Zone 5aCadillac, Michigan frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 5a, Cadillac gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
CADILLAC · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Cadillac’s own odds, recorded at CADILLAC.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 14 | May 31 | May 16 | Aug 31 | Sep 20 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F | Jun 3 | May 19 | May 2 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F | May 21 | May 5 | Apr 21 | Sep 28 | Oct 13 | Oct 31 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Cadillac, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Cadillac planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cadillac, MI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Cadillac around May 19 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Cadillac, MI?
Expect Cadillac's first fall frost near October 1 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Cadillac in?
Cadillac is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Cadillac?
Cadillac has about 135 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (October 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Cadillac?
For Cadillac, sow tomatoes indoors about March 24–April 7 and move the seedlings out around May 26, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Cadillac
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cadillac’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Traverse City · 58 km
- Mount Pleasant · 89 km
- Midland · 118 km
- Muskegon · 131 km
- Northview · 135 km
- Comstock Park · 135 km
- Norton Shores · 136 km
- Walker · 141 km
Frost dates recorded at CADILLAC, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Cadillac, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014817. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/cadillac.