Calendars by city / MI
Detroit, Michigan vegetable planting calendar
Planting windows for Detroit, Michigan built from the NOAA 1991–2020 freeze normals at DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, MI US (station USW00094847), not from a hardiness zone.
Detroit, Michigan planting dates for 27 vegetables
The same windows as a table
Each row applies a published extension rule to the frost dates above. Hardy crops go out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; semi-hardy crops 0–2 weeks before; tender crops around the frost date; very tender crops 2 or more weeks after. The last fall planting date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost. The rules and their sources are on the methodology page.
| Crop | Frost class | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Last fall planting | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Sep 1 | 60 |
| Broccoli | Hardy | Feb 2 – Mar 2 | Transplant: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 3 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Cabbage | Hardy | Feb 2 – Mar 2 | Transplant: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Aug 14 | 85 (from transplant) |
| Carrots | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Aug 22 | 70 |
| Cauliflower | Semi-hardy | Feb 16 – Mar 16 | Transplant: Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Aug 27 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 18 | 50 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 8 | 60 |
| Onions (green) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 8 | 60 |
| Onions (dry, from seed) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jul 20 | 110 |
| Onions (dry, from sets) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant sets: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jul 20 | 110 |
| Parsnips | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Aug 22 | 70 |
| Peas | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 3 | 65 |
| Potatoes | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant seed potatoes: Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jun 28 | 125 |
| Radishes | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Oct 8 | 30 |
| Spinach | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 28 | 40 |
| Swiss chard | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Sep 1 | 60 |
| Turnips | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Sep 18 | 50 |
| Snap beans | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Aug 25 | 60 |
| Cantaloupe | Very tender | Apr 13 – May 4 | Direct sow (or transplant): May 4 – May 18 | Jul 31 | 85 |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Jul 26 | 60–90 |
| Cucumbers | Tender | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Aug 30 | 55 |
| Eggplant | Very tender | Mar 2 – Apr 6 | Transplant: May 4 – May 18 | Aug 25 | 60 (from transplant) |
| Peppers | Very tender | Mar 9 – Apr 6 | Transplant: May 4 – May 18 | Aug 15 | 70 (from transplant) |
| Tomatoes | Very tender | Mar 16 – Apr 13 | Transplant: May 4 – May 18 | Aug 20 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Summer squash | Tender | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Direct sow (or transplant): Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Sep 4 | 50 |
| Winter squash | Very tender | Apr 13 – May 4 | Direct sow (or transplant): May 4 – May 18 | Jul 16 | 100 |
| Watermelon | Very tender | Apr 13 – May 4 | Direct sow (or transplant): May 4 – May 18 | Jul 31 | 85 |
What the Detroit, Michigan frost-free season means for your choices
At 187 frost-free days, Detroit, Michigan gardeners should compare that number to the days-to-harvest column before buying seed. A crop whose days to harvest plus its transplant age is close to the season length needs either an early start indoors or a short-season variety.
- Hardy crops (peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) can go in from about Mar 23 – Apr 6 and again for fall.
- Very tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, winter squash) should wait until May 4 – May 18; start tomato seeds indoors Mar 16 – Apr 13.
- Fall sowing is worthwhile only for the rows that show a separate fall date; for the others the spring window already covers the season.
Detroit, MI planting questions
When is the last frost in Detroit, Michigan?
The 50% probability date for the last spring 32°F reading at DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, MI US is Apr 20, from the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. In half the years on that record the last frost came later than that date, so tender crops are safer a week or two after it. The last 28°F hard freeze averages Apr 7.
When can I plant tomatoes in Detroit, Michigan?
Tomatoes are a very tender crop, so the Colorado State Extension rule puts them out 2 or more weeks after the last spring frost: May 4 – May 18 in Detroit, Michigan. Start the seeds indoors Mar 16 – Apr 13, which is 5 to 7 weeks before that transplant window.
How long is the growing season in Detroit, Michigan?
Detroit, Michigan averages 187 frost-free days, between the 50% last spring frost on Apr 20 and the 50% first fall frost on Oct 24 at DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, MI US. Check a variety's days to harvest against that number before buying seed.
When should I start seeds indoors in Detroit, Michigan?
The earliest indoor sowing on this calendar is broccoli and cabbage at Feb 2 – Mar 2. Hardy crops are transplanted out Mar 23 – Apr 6 here, and each crop's indoor window is simply its outdoor window minus the transplant age published by Colorado State Extension, so nothing starts earlier than that.
What can I plant in fall in Detroit, Michigan?
The crops with a separate fall sowing here, latest first, are radishes, spinach, kohlrabi, turnips, lettuce (leaf) and onions (green), plus 21 more on the chart above. Each fall date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost on Oct 24, plus an allowance for frost-tolerant crops that is our own assumption, not the source's.
Station data and limitations
| NOAA station | DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, MI US (USW00094847) |
|---|---|
| Location | 42.2313, -83.3308 · elevation 192.3 m |
| Last spring 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Apr 20 / Apr 7 |
| First fall 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Oct 24 / Nov 4 |
| Dataset | NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal product, data types ANN-TMIN-PRBLST/PRBFST-T32FP50 and T28FP50 |
| Retrieved | 2026-10-16 |
The normals describe the airport station, not your yard. They are averages of a 30-year record and say nothing about this year's weather. Watch the local forecast around the dates shown, and use soil temperature for warm-season crops, which the Colorado State guide treats as the better signal.
Nearby calendars
- Cleveland, Ohio — last spring frost Apr 22
- Grand Rapids, Michigan — last spring frost Apr 28
- Columbus, Ohio — last spring frost Apr 16
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — last spring frost Apr 24
Read the method behind these dates: last frost date vs hardiness zone.