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When to plant in Fenton, MI

USDA Zone 6a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fenton, Michigan — all computed from Fenton's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 6a, Fenton gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · LINDEN WWTP · 7.2 km
Last spring frost
May 3
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 12
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
162 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for FentonA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Fenton: last spring frost around May 3, first fall frost around October 12, about 162 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

LINDEN WWTP · 1991–2020

The 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 Fenton’s own odds, recorded at LINDEN WWTP.

Frost-probability curves for FentonProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 162 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 30May 15Apr 30Sep 20Oct 1Oct 13
32°FMay 20May 3Apr 21Sep 30Oct 12Oct 28
28°FMay 9Apr 23Apr 10Oct 10Oct 27Nov 9

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 6July 20
Fall sowin 1 days
Broccoli
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cabbage
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Carrot
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cauliflower
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Napa Cabbage
July 20August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Beet
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Collards
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Endive
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Escarole
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Kale
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Kohlrabi
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Peas
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Radicchio
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Swiss Chard
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Turnip
August 3August 31

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Fenton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 21 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

LINDEN WWTP
Primary
7 km · 263 m elevation
SPRING
May 3
FALL
Oct 12
FLINT BISHOP INTL AP
19 km · 235 m elevation
SPRING
May 6
FALL
Oct 10
GOODRICH
21 km · 277 m elevation
SPRING
May 1
FALL
Oct 14

Fenton planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Fenton, MI?

Plan for the last spring frost in Fenton around May 3 (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 Fenton, MI?

Expect Fenton's first fall frost near October 12 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Fenton in?

Fenton is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Fenton?

Fenton has about 162 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (October 12).

When should I plant tomatoes in Fenton?

For Fenton, sow tomatoes indoors about March 8–March 22 and move the seedlings out around May 10, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Fenton

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fenton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at LINDEN WWTP, 7 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Fenton, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00204793. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/fenton.
When to Plant in Fenton, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden