When to plant in Birmingham, MI
USDA Zone 6bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Birmingham, Michigan — all computed from Birmingham's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 6b, Birmingham gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Birmingham is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PONTIAC WWTP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Birmingham’s own odds, recorded at PONTIAC WWTP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 5 | Apr 22 | Sep 28 | Oct 10 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 26 | Apr 15 | Oct 7 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 20 | Nov 4 | Nov 17 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Birmingham, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Birmingham planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Birmingham, MI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Birmingham around April 26 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Birmingham, MI?
Expect Birmingham's first fall frost near October 22 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Birmingham in?
Birmingham is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Birmingham?
Birmingham has about 179 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 22).
When should I plant tomatoes in Birmingham?
For Birmingham, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Birmingham
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Birmingham’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Beverly Hills · 3 km
- Clawson · 5 km
- Berkley · 6 km
- Royal Oak · 7 km
- Troy · 7 km
- Southfield · 9 km
- Oak Park · 9 km
- Madison Heights · 10 km
Frost dates recorded at PONTIAC WWTP, 11 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Birmingham, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00206658. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/birmingham.