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When to plant in Troy, MI

USDA Zone 6b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Troy, Michigan — all computed from Troy's nearest NOAA weather station.

Zone 6b means Troy sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · PONTIAC WWTP · 10.9 km
Last spring frost
April 26
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 22
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
179 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for TroyA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Troy: last spring frost around April 26, first fall frost around October 22, about 179 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Troy is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

PONTIAC WWTP · 1991–2020

The 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 Troy’s own odds, recorded at PONTIAC WWTP.

Frost-probability curves for TroyProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 179 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 22May 5Apr 22Sep 28Oct 10Oct 23
32°FMay 12Apr 26Apr 15Oct 7Oct 22Nov 4
28°FApr 30Apr 16Apr 3Oct 20Nov 4Nov 17

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 16July 30
Fall sowin 11 days
Broccoli
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Cabbage
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Carrot
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Cauliflower
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Napa Cabbage
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Beet
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Collards
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Endive
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Escarole
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Kale
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Kohlrabi
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Peas
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Radicchio
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Swiss Chard
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Turnip
August 13September 10

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Troy, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 22 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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 WWTP
Primary
11 km · 271 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 26
FALL
Oct 22
FARMINGTON
22 km · 220 m elevation
SPRING
May 1
FALL
Oct 17
DETROIT CITY AP
22 km · 191 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 21
FALL
Oct 31

Troy planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Troy, MI?

Plan for the last spring frost in Troy 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 Troy, MI?

In Troy, 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 Troy in?

Troy 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 Troy?

There are roughly 179 frost-free days in Troy (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 Troy?

In Troy, start tomato seeds indoors around March 1–March 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 3 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Troy

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Troy’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

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.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Troy, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00206658. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/troy.