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When to plant in Ypsilanti, MI

USDA Zone 6a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Ypsilanti, Michigan — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

In zone 6a, Ypsilanti gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · ANN ARBOR SE · 5.9 km
Last spring frost
May 5
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 10
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
158 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for YpsilantiA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Ypsilanti: last spring frost around May 5, first fall frost around October 10, about 158 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

ANN ARBOR SE · 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 Ypsilanti’s own odds, recorded at ANN ARBOR SE.

Frost-probability curves for YpsilantiProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around May 5 and the first fall frost around October 10, giving about 158 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 29May 15May 1Sep 18Oct 1Oct 12
32°FMay 20May 5Apr 21Sep 28Oct 10Oct 24
28°FMay 11Apr 24Apr 10Oct 7Oct 23Nov 6

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
Broccoli
July 18August 1
Fall sowopen now
Cabbage
July 18August 1
Fall sowopen now
Carrot
July 18August 1
Fall sowopen now
Cauliflower
July 18August 1
Fall sowopen now
Napa Cabbage
July 18August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Beet
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Collards
August 1August 29
Fall sowin 13 days
Endive
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Escarole
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Kale
August 1August 29
Fall sowin 13 days
Kohlrabi
August 1August 29
Fall sowin 13 days
Peas
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Radicchio
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Swiss Chard
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Turnip
August 1August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Arugula
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Bok Choy
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Chervil
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Cilantro
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce)
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Corn Salad (Mâche)
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Lettuce
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Mizuna
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Mustard Greens
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Radish
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum)
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Spinach
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Tatsoi
August 15September 12

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 Ypsilanti, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 7 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.

ANN ARBOR SE
Primary
6 km · 254 m elevation
SPRING
May 5
FALL
Oct 10
ANN ARBOR U OF MICH
7 km · 248 m elevation
SPRING
May 3
FALL
Oct 13
DETROIT WILLOW RUN AP
7 km · 237 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 24

Ypsilanti planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Ypsilanti, MI?

Ypsilanti's average last spring frost falls near May 5 — 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 Ypsilanti, MI?

Expect Ypsilanti's first fall frost near October 10 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Ypsilanti in?

Ypsilanti 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 Ypsilanti?

Ypsilanti has about 158 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (October 10).

When should I plant tomatoes in Ypsilanti?

For Ypsilanti, sow tomatoes indoors about March 10–March 24 and move the seedlings out around May 12, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Ypsilanti

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at ANN ARBOR SE, 6 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 Ypsilanti, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00200228. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/michigan/ypsilanti.
When to Plant in Ypsilanti, MI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden