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When to plant in Kentwood, MI

USDA Zone 6a

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

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

Station · NWSFO GRAND RAPIDS · 4.0 km
Last spring frost
April 30
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 14
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
167 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for KentwoodA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Kentwood: last spring frost around April 30, first fall frost around October 14, about 167 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

NWSFO GRAND RAPIDS · 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 Kentwood’s own odds, recorded at NWSFO GRAND RAPIDS.

Frost-probability curves for KentwoodProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 14, giving about 167 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 27May 11Apr 27Sep 21Oct 3Oct 14
32°FMay 17Apr 30Apr 16Oct 1Oct 14Oct 28
28°FMay 5Apr 18Apr 4Oct 11Oct 26Nov 11

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 8July 22
Fall sowin 3 days
Broccoli
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Cabbage
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Carrot
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Cauliflower
July 22August 5
Fall sowin 3 days
Napa Cabbage
July 22August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Beet
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Collards
August 5September 2
Fall sowin 17 days
Endive
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Escarole
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Kale
August 5September 2
Fall sowin 17 days
Kohlrabi
August 5September 2
Fall sowin 17 days
Peas
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Radicchio
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Swiss Chard
August 5August 19
Fall sowin 17 days
Turnip
August 5September 2

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 Kentwood, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 6 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.

NWSFO GRAND RAPIDS
Primary
4 km · 236 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 14
GRAND RAPIDS
4 km · 237 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 29
FALL
Oct 20
E GRAND RAPIDS
6 km · 227 m elevation
SPRING
May 6
FALL
Oct 10

Kentwood planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Kentwood, MI?

On average, the last spring frost in Kentwood is around April 30 (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 Kentwood, MI?

Expect Kentwood's first fall frost near October 14 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Kentwood in?

Kentwood 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 Kentwood?

Kentwood has about 167 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 14).

When should I plant tomatoes in Kentwood?

For Kentwood, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Kentwood

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at NWSFO GRAND RAPIDS, 4 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 Kentwood, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00206013. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/kentwood.
When to Plant in Kentwood, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden