When to plant in Michigan
Most of Michigan sees its last spring frost between Apr 27 and May 22, and its first fall frost between Sep 29 and Oct 24. The middle of the state is around May 3 and October 13: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Michigan: 4b (3%), 5a (12%), 5b (9%), 6a (55%), 6b (19%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 1 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 29 – Oct 13 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 18 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 3 – Oct 13 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 – Sep 1 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 9 – Sep 17 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 23 – Sep 27 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 – Aug 25 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 21 – Jun 25 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 3 – Aug 31 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 20 – Jul 1 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 1 – Jun 12 | Sep 3 – Sep 17 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 30 – Aug 22 | Sep 2 – Sep 16 |
| Broccoli | Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 11 – Jul 16 | Aug 7 – Aug 21 |
| Cabbage | Feb 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 14 – Jul 19 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 21 – Aug 2 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Beet | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jun 6 – Jul 18 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| Radish | — | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Apr 23 – May 21 | Sep 4 – Sep 18 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Jul 7 – Aug 11 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 6 – Oct 27 (fall) | Jun 28 – Jul 19 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jul 11 – Aug 15 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 12 | May 24 – Jun 7 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 24 – Jun 7 | Aug 17 – Sep 21 | — |
| Basil | Apr 8 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jun 19 – Sep 25 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | May 31 – Jun 28 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 8 – Sep 12 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Michigan. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Michigan
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 6b | Apr 27 | Oct 25 |
| Grand Rapids | 6a | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Lansing | 6a | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| Flint | 6a | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Kalamazoo | 6a | Apr 28 | Oct 18 |
| Saginaw | 6a | Apr 29 | Oct 21 |
| Ann Arbor | 6a | May 8 | Oct 4 |
| Midland | 6a | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Warren | 6b | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
| Dearborn | 6b | May 1 | Oct 15 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.