When to plant in Forest Hills, MI
USDA Zone 6aForest Hills, 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 6a, Forest Hills gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
GRAND RAPIDS · 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 Forest Hills’s own odds, recorded at GRAND RAPIDS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 7 | Apr 24 | Sep 26 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 15 | Apr 29 | Apr 14 | Oct 4 | Oct 20 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 16 | Apr 2 | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | Nov 17 |
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 Forest Hills, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
Forest Hills planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Forest Hills, MI?
On average, the last spring frost in Forest Hills is around April 29 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Forest Hills, MI?
The first fall frost in Forest Hills typically arrives around October 20 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Forest Hills in?
Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills?
Forest Hills has about 174 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 29) and first fall frost (October 20).
When should I plant tomatoes in Forest Hills?
For Forest Hills, sow tomatoes indoors about March 4–March 18 and move the seedlings out around May 6, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Forest Hills
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Forest Hills’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- East Grand Rapids · 10 km
- Kentwood · 12 km
- Northview · 13 km
- Grand Rapids · 14 km
- Comstock Park · 18 km
- Wyoming · 19 km
- Cutlerville · 20 km
- Walker · 22 km
Frost dates recorded at GRAND RAPIDS, 9 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 Forest Hills, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094860. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/forest-hills.