UP Michigan Growing Season (landscaping, Fruit Trees, tomatoes, vegetable)

[ChrisC]

I posted this in the Michigan forum, but I'll try here too...

Just curious: what is the UP Michigan growing season like? What sorts of gardening/plants work well there? Or even fruit trees? I know it's a short season... but how short?

I'm sure it varies by region. I'm most interested in western UP, perhaps around Ironwood, Iron River, Menominee, or even Hancock.

[DLK55]

Our growing season here in N. Indiana runs from April into October and that far north has got to be solidly zone 4, maybe zone 3 at higher elevations in some spots. I would wager that would make the growing season maybe May to September, at least for zone 4, shorter if you happen to land in zone 3. That limits your choices some compared to our area but there are plenty of hardy plants, trees or shrubs that you can grow there and you could have a vegetable garden if you're so inclined.

Did a little searching and found this:

USDA Zones and Plant Lists : Landscaping : Home & Garden Television

and this:

vegetable gardening | growing fruit trees

[ChrisC]

Originally Posted by DLK55

Our growing season here in N. Indiana runs from April into October and that far north has got to be solidly zone 4, maybe zone 3 at higher elevations in some spots. I would wager that would make the growing season maybe May to September, at least for zone 4, shorter if you happen to land in zone 3. That limits your choices some compared to our area but there are plenty of hardy plants, trees or shrubs that you can grow there and you could have a vegetable garden if you're so inclined.

Did a little searching and found this:

USDA Zones and Plant Lists : Landscaping : Home & Garden Television

and this:

vegetable gardening | growing fruit trees

Great links. I favorited them... thanks!

[susancruzs]

Over at the weather forum, someone posted the map showing zones (towards the bottom of page 6), gives you a good overview! My sister lives south of US 2 at the top of Lake Michigan (in what they call the "banana belt"), she is getting ripe tomatoes right now, even with the cooler than normal summer.

I hate high levels of humidity with heat

[thebreadlady]

i would check into greenhouses and hoophouses for cold climates if you are depending on growing veggies up there. i know MSU is working with at least one veggie grower up there on season extension using them, maybe near Engadine.