When to plant in Sturgis, MI
USDA Zone 6aSturgis, Michigan frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
These dates come from a station roughly 17 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Sturgis (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. In zone 6a, Sturgis gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Sturgis is now 9 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LAGRANGE · 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 Sturgis’s own odds, recorded at LAGRANGE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 6 | Apr 23 | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | May 14 | Apr 26 | Apr 13 | Oct 5 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Apr 2 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
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 Sturgis, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 36 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.
Sturgis planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Sturgis, MI?
On average, the last spring frost in Sturgis is around April 26 (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 Sturgis, MI?
The first fall frost in Sturgis typically arrives around October 21 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Sturgis in?
Sturgis 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 Sturgis?
Sturgis has about 178 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 21).
When should I plant tomatoes in Sturgis?
For Sturgis, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Sturgis
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Sturgis’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Coldwater · 38 km
- Kendallville · 42 km
- Goshen · 42 km
- Portage · 47 km
- Elkhart · 47 km
- Kalamazoo · 55 km
- Auburn · 57 km
- Battle Creek · 58 km
Frost dates recorded at LAGRANGE, 17 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 Sturgis, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00124730. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/sturgis.