Michigan frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 1 cities in Michigan, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | Apr 27 | May 11 | Oct 25 | 181 |
Planting calendar for Detroit
The largest city we cover in Michigan. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Apr 27
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: May 11. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 25
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 10. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
181
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 181 days. Station: Dearborn #2, MI, 7 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
March
The next window opens in March.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 2
- Start indoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 16
- Transplant outdoors
- May 11 – May 25
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 2
- Start indoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 11
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- May 11 – May 25
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- May 11 – May 25
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 13 – May 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 13 – May 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – May 11
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 16
- Transplant outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Sow outdoors
- May 4 – May 11
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 16
- Start indoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 30
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 30 – Apr 27
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 30
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 30 – Apr 27
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 30
- Start indoors
- Mar 30 – Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 30
- Start indoors
- Mar 30 – Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 30
- Start indoors
- Mar 30 – Apr 13
April
The next window opens in April.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 13
- Start indoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 18
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 13
- Start indoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 18
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 13
- Start indoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- May 18 – May 25
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Apr 13
- Start indoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Transplant outdoors
- May 18 – May 25
- Sow outdoors
- May 18 – May 25
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Apr 13
- Start indoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- May 18 – May 25
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – May 11
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 13
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 27
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
- Sow for fall
- Jul 18 – Aug 1
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 11
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 11
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 11
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 11
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 4
May
The next window opens in May.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 11
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 11
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from May 11
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from May 11
- Sow outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from May 11
- Transplant outdoors
- May 11 – May 11
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from May 18
- Sow outdoors
- May 18 – May 25
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 25
- Sow outdoors
- May 25 – May 25
August
The next window opens in August.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Aug 29
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Aug 29
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.