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Frost dates and planting calendar for Holland, Michigan

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
6b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 28[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 21[3]
Growing season, median
175 days[4]

Holland, Michigan is in USDA hardiness zone 6b[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearby NOAA station is April 28[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 13, half of years Apr 28, 1 in 10 years after May 16Last frostmedian Apr 28First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 4, half of years Oct 21, 1 in 10 years before Oct 4First frostmedian Oct 21Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 28around Apr 28Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 12from May 12
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

NOAA frost dates come from the Holland Tulip City Airport station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 28, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 16[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 21, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 4[3]. These are odds from past years, not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 13 after April 28 after May 16
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 4 before October 21 before November 4
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 16, median first fall date November 3[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 151 days in 9 of 10 years, 175 days in half of years and 196 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Holland Tulip City Airport (USW00004839), 1.5 miles from the city center, 689 feet, 23 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts used the NOAA median last frost of April 28 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 31 to April 14[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as April 14[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn go in from seed around April 28[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the last frost, so the earliest start is May 12[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 28) is March 31 to April 14[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 28) is April 14, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 28[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 28), is May 12[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 31 Jun 4 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 31 Jun 24 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 31 May 20
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 31 May 30
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 31 Jul 19
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 31 Jun 4
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 31 Apr 30
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 31 May 10
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 31 May 20
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 14 Jun 13
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 14 Jun 23
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 14 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 14 Jun 23
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 14 Aug 17
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 14 Jun 13
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 28 Jun 27
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 28 Jun 27
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 28 Jun 22
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 28 Jun 17
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 12 Aug 5
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 12 Jul 11 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 12 Jul 21 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 12 Jul 16 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 12 Aug 20
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 12 Aug 5
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The USDA zone is based on the average coldest night of each winter from 1991 to 2020, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Zone 6b means an average yearly low of -5°F to 0°F[1]. By land area, all of Holland lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b[15].

Zone 6b: average annual extreme minimum temperature -5°F to 0°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -2.1°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 6b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 6b and what zone 6b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
49423[15] 6b -5 to 0°F
49424[15] 6b -5 to 0°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Holland, Michigan?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Holland in zone 6b[1]. All of the city by land area is in ZIP code areas rated 6b[15].
When is the last frost in Holland, MI?
The median last spring frost is April 28[2]. In 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 13, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 16[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Holland, MI?
Colorado State University Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is May 12[11].
When is the first frost in Holland, MI?
The median first fall frost is October 21[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 4, and in 9 of 10 years it comes before November 4[3].
How long is the growing season in Holland, MI?
The growing season is at least 175 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 151 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Holland, Michigan in zone 6b. Zone 6b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -5°F to 0°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 2.1°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 13, in half of years after April 28, and in 1 of 10 years after May 16 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 28. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 4, in half of years before October 21, and in 9 of 10 years before November 4 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 21. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 151 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 175 days in half of years, and at least 196 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Holland Tulip City Airport weather station (USW00004839), 1.5 miles from the center of Holland at 689 feet, using 23 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 16 and the median first fall date is November 3. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Holland, Michigan overlaps 2 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.