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SowingDates

Frost dates & planting calendar for Detroit, MI

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.

6b

USDA hardiness zone

Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: −5 to 0°F (−20.6 to −17.8°C).

Zone for ZIP 48206, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 6b means.

What to plant right now

As of Nov 9, 2026

Now

Nothing to sow or plant out. Here is what opens next.

Start indoors from Mar 2

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).

Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.

Can I plant tomatoes now?

Not this season. Start tomato seeds indoors from Mar 16 to Mar 30, then plant them out from May 11 to May 25.

Garden leaves edged with white frost on a cold morning

Planting calendar

Windows are counted from the safer dates (May 11 in spring, Oct 10 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.

Show crop type

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.

  • Arugulahalf hardy

    No frost-based window listed.

    No frost-based sowing window is listed for arugula.

Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.

Questions

When is the last frost in Detroit?
The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Detroit is Apr 27. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after May 11.
When is the first frost in Detroit?
The typical first fall frost is Oct 25. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 10.
When should I start tomato seeds in Detroit?
Start tomato seeds indoors between Mar 16 and Mar 30, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
What planting zone is Detroit in?
Detroit is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 48206, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.

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