When to plant in Traverse City, MI
USDA Zone 6aTraverse City, Michigan frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6a means Traverse City sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Traverse City is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
TRAVERSE CITY CHERRY CPTL AP · 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 Traverse City’s own odds, recorded at TRAVERSE CITY CHERRY CPTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 5 | May 25 | May 9 | Sep 19 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | May 27 | May 12 | Apr 26 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | May 16 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Oct 12 | Oct 30 | 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 Traverse City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Traverse City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Traverse City, MI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Traverse City around May 12 (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 Traverse City, MI?
In Traverse City, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 16 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Traverse City in?
Traverse City 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 Traverse City?
There are roughly 157 frost-free days in Traverse City (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 12 to the first fall frost near October 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Traverse City?
In Traverse City, start tomato seeds indoors around March 17–March 31, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 19 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Traverse City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Traverse City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cadillac · 58 km
- Mount Pleasant · 145 km
- Escanaba · 160 km
- Marinette · 164 km
- Midland · 166 km
- Two Rivers · 170 km
- Alpena · 174 km
- Muskegon · 178 km
Frost dates recorded at TRAVERSE CITY CHERRY CPTL AP, 2 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 Traverse City, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014850. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/traverse-city.