In Sault Ste. Marie, the average last spring frost is May 22 and the average first fall frost is Oct 1, a growing season of about 132 days (zone 5a). Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 10 and move them outside from Jun 5. Plant garlic Oct 8 to Oct 15, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Sault Ste. Marie at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 22 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 1 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 132 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5a (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Sault Ste Marie, MI; Sault Ste Marie; and Sault Ste Marie Sanderson Fld, MI, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sault Ste. Marie in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 13.
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sault Ste. Marie in February. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 13.
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (March)
- Start onions indoors: Mar 13
Coming up in early April: start tomatoes indoors (Apr 10), start peppers indoors (Apr 10), start eggplant indoors (Apr 10) and start lettuce indoors (Apr 10).
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (April)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Apr 10
- Start peppers indoors: Apr 10
- Start eggplant indoors: Apr 10
- Start lettuce indoors: Apr 10
- Start kale indoors: Apr 17
- Start broccoli indoors: Apr 17
- Start cabbage indoors: Apr 17
- Start basil indoors: Apr 24
Coming up in early May: direct sow spinach (May 1), direct sow peas (May 1), direct sow radishes (May 1), transplant lettuce (May 8), direct sow carrots (May 8), start cucumbers indoors (May 8), start zucchini indoors (May 8) and start winter squash indoors (May 8).
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (May)
- Direct sow spinach: May 1
- Direct sow peas: May 1
- Direct sow radishes: May 1
- Transplant lettuce: May 8
- Direct sow carrots: May 8
- Start cucumbers indoors: May 8
- Start zucchini indoors: May 8
- Start winter squash indoors: May 8
- Direct sow beets: May 15
- Transplant kale: May 15
- Transplant broccoli: May 15
- Transplant cabbage: May 15
- Direct sow potatoes: May 15
- Transplant onions: May 22
- Transplant cucumbers: May 29
- Transplant zucchini: May 29
- Transplant winter squash: May 29
- Direct sow beans: May 29
Coming up in early June: transplant tomatoes (Jun 5), transplant peppers (Jun 5), transplant eggplant (Jun 5) and transplant basil (Jun 5).
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (June)
- Transplant tomatoes: Jun 5
- Transplant peppers: Jun 5
- Transplant eggplant: Jun 5
- Transplant basil: Jun 5
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (July)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Jul 23
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Jul 23
Coming up in early August: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Aug 6) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Aug 13).
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (August)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 6
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 13
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Aug 27
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sault Ste. Marie in September. Next up: plant garlic on Oct 8.
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 8 to Oct 15
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sault Ste. Marie in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 13.
What to plant in Sault Ste. Marie this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sault Ste. Marie in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Mar 13.
Sault Ste. Marie planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 10 | Transplant Jun 5 | From Aug 22 |
| Peppers | Apr 10 | Transplant Jun 5 | From Aug 16 |
| Eggplant | Apr 10 | Transplant Jun 5 | From Aug 19 |
| Basil | Apr 24 | Transplant Jun 5 | From Jul 17 |
| Onions (from seed) | Mar 13 | Transplant May 22 | From Aug 30 |
| Lettuce | Apr 10 | Transplant May 8Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From Jun 17Fall: from Sep 15 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow May 1Fall: direct sow Aug 13 | From Jun 10Fall: from Sep 22 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow May 1Fall: direct sow Jul 23 | From Jun 30Fall: from Sep 21 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow May 1Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 26Fall: from Sep 21 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow May 8 | From Jul 17 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow May 15 | From Jul 9 |
| Kale | Apr 17 | Transplant May 15Fall: direct sow Jul 23 | From Jul 9Fall: from Sep 16 |
| Broccoli | Apr 17 | Transplant May 15 | From Jul 19 |
| Cabbage | Apr 17 | Transplant May 15 | From Jul 24 |
| Cucumbers | May 8 | Transplant May 29 | From Jul 23 |
| Zucchini | May 8 | Transplant May 29 | From Jul 18 |
| Winter squash | May 8 | Transplant May 29 | From Aug 27 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 29 | From Jul 23 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow May 15 | From Aug 3 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 8 to Oct 15 | Around Aug 14 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Sault Ste. Marie's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Sault Ste. Marie
Plant garlic Oct 8 to Oct 15. That is one to two weeks after Sault Ste. Marie's average first fall frost of Oct 1, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Aug 14 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Sault Ste. Marie.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Sault Ste. Marie:
- Peas: sow Jul 23, ready from about Sep 21
- Kale: sow Jul 23, ready from about Sep 16
- Lettuce: sow Aug 6, ready from about Sep 15
- Spinach: sow Aug 13, ready from about Sep 22
- Radishes: sow Aug 27, ready from about Sep 21
Nearby planting calendars
Sault Ste. Marie planting questions
When is the last frost in Sault Ste. Marie?
The average last spring frost in Sault Ste. Marie is May 22, and the average first fall frost is Oct 1, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Sault Ste. Marie?
Start tomatoes indoors around Apr 10, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jun 5, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Sault Ste. Marie in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 8 to Oct 15. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Jul 23, lettuce around Aug 6, spinach around Aug 13 and radishes around Aug 27.