Part 1: Characteristics of Michigan Planting Zone
According to USDA Map, the Michigan has planting zones including:
- Zone 4a (Northern Michigan): -30°F to -25°F (-34°C to -31°C). Cold winters with heavy snowfall and short, cool summers. Grow season around 100-120 days per year.
- Zone 4b (Northern Michigan): -25°F to -20°F (-31°C to -29°C). Similar to Zone 4a, with slightly milder winters. Approximately 110-130 days grow season.
- Zone 5a (Central Michigan): -20°F to -15°F (-29°C to -26°C). Cold winters with moderate snowfall and mild to warm summers. Approximately 120-140 days for grow.
- Zone 5b (Central and South Michigan): -15°F to -10°F (-26°C to -23°C). Milder winters compared to Zones 4a and 4b, with warm summers. Approximately 130-150 days for grow.
- Zone 6a (South Michigan): -10°F to -5°F (-23°C to -21°C). Milder winters compared to Zones 4a and 4b, with warm summers. Approximately 140-160 days for grow.
- Zone 6b (South Michigan): -5°F to -0°F (-21°C to -8°C). Mild winters, hot summers, longer growing season. Approximately 150-170 days.
Most parts of Michigan state is also prone to severe weather such as thunderstorms, wind storms, blizzards, floods, and heavy snowfall.
Part 2: Importance of Greenhouses in Michigan
Greenhouses are essential for Michigan gardeners, providing numerous benefits in the state’s unpredictable climate. Here’s how greenhouses help:
- Extending the Growing Season
• Early Start in Spring: Start seeds and grow plants earlier, before the last frost date, crucial for Michigan’s short growing season.
• Late Harvest in Fall: Protect plants from early frosts, extending the growing season by several weeks for a late harvest.
• Year-Round Gardening: With proper heating and lighting, greenhouses enable year-round gardening, offering fresh produce even in winter.
- Protection from Weather Extremes
• Frost and Snow: Shield plants from freezing temperatures and snow accumulation, crucial during harsh Michigan winters.
• Heavy Rain and Wind: Protect young plants from heavy rain and strong winds, common in Michigan’s spring and fall.
• Pest and Disease Control: Create a barrier against pests and diseases, leading to healthier plants and higher yields.
- Versatility
• Freestanding Greenhouses: Ideal for ample space, providing a large growing area with options for ventilation and heating.
• Lean-To Greenhouses: Great for limited space, benefiting from the heat of an adjoining structure, especially in colder zones.
• Portable Greenhouses: Lightweight and cost-effective, suitable for small-scale gardening and can be moved as needed.
Part 3: Recommended Greenhouse Models for Michigan
- Planta Sungrow Greenhouses: Design for cold climate zones. Wind resistant up to 65 Mph. Up to 98 PSF stand snow load. Imported from EU with a heavy-duty galvanized steel frame and 10 years warranty. Two entrances with extendable feature.
- Exaco Riga Greenhouses: Most strongest hobby and commercial greenhouses in the market. Made in Germany by 13 gauge aluminum framing. Up to 120 Mph wind resistance and onion shape design to make snow slip out. 10 Years warranty. If you are looking for a greenhouse without duty-concerns, Choose RIGA for no questions.
- Solexx Greenhouses: Made in USA with excellent insulation performance make temprature inside greenhouse more stable whatever summer or winter. Solexx is a perfect greenhouse for Michigan zone. Plants can grow 25% faster in this greenhouse. Plus, users can expect on save thousands of dollars in heating cost during winter. We recommend 5mm edition for Michigan due to harsh winter temperature. Made with galvanized PVC frame up to 70Mph wind resistance and up to 90 PSF snow load rate. if you are build your own greenhouse, the Solexx Greenhouse Panel 5mm edition should be your first choice in Michigan. 10 Years warranty.
- MONT Greenhouse MOHEAT Edition: Featured with RSI propane gas heating system and made in USA by heavy-duty aluminum. the MONT commercial grade greenhouse is a good choice for Michigan gardeners. The structure can help you save around $200 to $260 cost to run yearly. It can against up to 65 mph wind resistance and good snow load rate.10 years greenhouse warranty.
- Janssens Polycarbonate greenhouse: Built to last and 100% imported from Belgium, Janssens has over 76 years history to build victorian style greenhouses and English glass houses. On gardening side, the Janssens greenhouses featured with tubular aluminum profiles and galzing bars that made it can against up to 130 Mph wind resistance, 30 PSF (ground-snow load) and 20 psf (roof live load) by 10mm double wall “X-Strong” polycarbonate, strong aluminum framework with base. This is the luxury and heavy-duty greenhouse brand we recommend to Michigan gardeners. This is also a customizable greenhouse which can fit your yard or land.
- Winter Gardenz Polycarbonate Greenhouse. Made in New Zealand with No panel blowout guarantee on 85 Mph high wind and it is definetly right fit Michigan's garden zone. Winter Gardenz is a new innovated greenhouse brand that fit Michigan's harsh climate environment over 15 years. With a Winter Gardenz greenhouse, you can rest assured that your investment will yield fruit for decades to come, as long as you keep the garden growing inside!