Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Sault Ste. Marie, MI

The average first fall frost in Sault Ste. Marie, MI is October 11, and the average last spring frost is May 9, giving a growing season of about 151 days.

Plan your garden around Sault Ste. Marie, MI's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

May 9

Safe May 27 Typical May 9 Risky Apr 27

First Fall Frost

October 11

Safe Sep 26 Typical Oct 11 Risky Oct 26

Growing Season

151 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 4b

Very cold winters, focus on short-season varieties and cold-hardy perennials.

Data: NOAA station SAULT STE MARIE SANDERSON FLD, MI US, 2 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Sault Ste. Marie Compares

Sault Ste. Marie's typical last spring frost (May 9) comes later than in 96% of the 120 Michigan cities we track.
Its 151-day growing season is 21 days shorter than the Michigan median of 172 days.
July is the warmest month (average high 77°F) and January the coldest (average low 8°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	May 16 – May 23	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Feb 28 – Mar 14	—	May 16 – May 30	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Feb 28 – Mar 14	—	May 23 – May 30	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Apr 11 – Apr 18	May 16 – May 23	May 16 – May 23	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Apr 18 – Apr 25	May 16 – May 30	May 16 – May 23	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Apr 11 – Apr 18	May 16 – May 30	May 16 – May 23	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	May 16 – May 30	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	May 23 – May 30	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Apr 11 – Apr 18	—	May 23 – May 30	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	May 9 – May 23	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	May 9 – May 23	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 28 – Apr 11	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	Aug 16 – Aug 30	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 28 – Apr 11	—	Aug 16 – Aug 30	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	Aug 2 – Aug 16	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	Aug 30 – Sep 6	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Apr 18 – May 2	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 21 – Apr 4	—	Apr 18 – Apr 25	Aug 9 – Aug 16	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Mar 21 – Apr 4	—	Apr 25 – May 2	Aug 2 – Aug 9	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Mar 21 – Apr 4	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	Aug 2 – Aug 16	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 21 – Apr 4	—	Apr 18 – May 2	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	Jul 19 – Aug 2	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	Aug 2 – Aug 16	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Apr 4 – Apr 18	—	Aug 30 – Sep 13	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	Aug 2 – Aug 16	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 28 – Mar 14	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Sep 13 – Sep 27	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	May 23 – Jun 6	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Apr 11 – Apr 25	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 28 – Apr 4	—	May 16 – May 23	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Apr 18 – May 2	—	Aug 16 – Aug 30	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	Apr 25 – May 2	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Apr 18 – May 2	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	May 9 – May 16	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	May 9 – May 16	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	May 16 – May 30	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Apr 11 – Apr 18	May 16 – May 30	May 16 – May 23	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Mar 28 – Apr 11	—	May 16 – May 23	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Apr 11 – Apr 18	May 16 – May 30	May 16 – May 23	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	May 16 – May 30	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	May 16 – May 30	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Sault Ste. Marie, MI?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the SAULT STE MARIE SANDERSON FLD, MI US station, the last spring frost in Sault Ste. Marie typically falls around May 9. A cautious gardener might wait until May 27 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 27 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Sault Ste. Marie, MI in fall?

The first fall frost in Sault Ste. Marie typically arrives around October 11. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 26; in milder years it can hold off until October 26.

How long is the growing season in Sault Ste. Marie, MI?

Sault Ste. Marie's average frost-free growing season is about 151 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 9) to the typical first fall frost (October 11).

What USDA hardiness zone is Sault Ste. Marie, MI in?

Sault Ste. Marie, MI is in USDA plant hardiness zone 4b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Very cold winters, focus on short-season varieties and cold-hardy perennials.