When to plant in Pontiac, MI
USDA Zone 6aPontiac, Michigan frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6a means Pontiac sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Pontiac 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 Pontiac’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 Pontiac, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Pontiac planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Pontiac, MI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Pontiac 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 Pontiac, MI?
In Pontiac, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 22 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Pontiac in?
Pontiac is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Pontiac?
There are roughly 179 frost-free days in Pontiac (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 26 to the first fall frost near October 22.
When should I plant tomatoes in Pontiac?
In Pontiac, start tomato seeds indoors around March 1–March 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 3 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Pontiac
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Pontiac’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Auburn Hills · 5 km
- Rochester Hills · 11 km
- Birmingham · 13 km
- Troy · 14 km
- Rochester · 14 km
- Beverly Hills · 15 km
- Clawson · 17 km
- Berkley · 19 km
Frost dates recorded at PONTIAC WWTP, 3 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 Pontiac, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00206658. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/pontiac.