When to plant in Detroit, MI
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Detroit, Michigan — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6b, Detroit gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
DEARBORN #2 · 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 Detroit’s own odds, recorded at DEARBORN #2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 6 | Apr 25 | Sep 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | May 11 | Apr 27 | Apr 12 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Apr 1 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 | Nov 21 |
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 Detroit, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 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.
Detroit planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Detroit, MI?
Detroit's average last spring frost falls near April 27 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Detroit, MI?
Expect Detroit's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Detroit in?
Detroit 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 Detroit?
Detroit has about 181 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 27) and first fall frost (October 25).
When should I plant tomatoes in Detroit?
For Detroit, sow tomatoes indoors about March 2–March 16 and move the seedlings out around May 4, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Detroit
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Detroit’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hamtramck · 4 km
- Hazel Park · 9 km
- Ferndale · 9 km
- Oak Park · 11 km
- Dearborn · 12 km
- Melvindale · 13 km
- Warren · 14 km
- Madison Heights · 14 km
Frost dates recorded at DEARBORN #2, 7 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 Detroit, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00202016. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/detroit.