In Detroit, the average last spring frost is Apr 22 and the average first fall frost is Oct 22, a growing season of about 183 days (zone 6b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 11 and move them outside from May 6. Plant garlic Oct 29 to Nov 5, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Detroit at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 22 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 22 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 183 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Windsor; Windsor Riverside; and Dearborn #2, MI, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Detroit this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Detroit in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 11.
What to plant in Detroit this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 11
Coming up in early March: start tomatoes indoors (Mar 11), start peppers indoors (Mar 11), start eggplant indoors (Mar 11) and start lettuce indoors (Mar 11).
What to plant in Detroit this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 11
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 11
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 11
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 11
- Start kale indoors: Mar 18
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 18
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 18
- Start basil indoors: Mar 25
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 1), direct sow peas (Apr 1), direct sow radishes (Apr 1), transplant lettuce (Apr 8), direct sow carrots (Apr 8), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 8), start zucchini indoors (Apr 8) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 8).
What to plant in Detroit this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 1
- Direct sow peas: Apr 1
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 1
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 8
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 8
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 8
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 8
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 8
- Direct sow beets: Apr 15
- Transplant kale: Apr 15
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 15
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 15
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 15
- Transplant onions: Apr 22
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 29
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 29
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 29
- Direct sow beans: Apr 29
Coming up in early May: transplant tomatoes (May 6), transplant peppers (May 6), transplant eggplant (May 6) and transplant basil (May 6).
What to plant in Detroit this month (May)
- Transplant tomatoes: May 6
- Transplant peppers: May 6
- Transplant eggplant: May 6
- Transplant basil: May 6
What to plant in Detroit this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Detroit in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 13.
What to plant in Detroit this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Detroit in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 13.
What to plant in Detroit this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 13
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 13
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 27
Coming up in early September: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Sep 3).
What to plant in Detroit this month (September)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 3
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 17
What to plant in Detroit this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 29 to Nov 5
What to plant in Detroit this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Oct 29 to Nov 5
What to plant in Detroit this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Detroit in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 11.
Detroit planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 | Transplant May 6 | From Jul 23 |
| Peppers | Mar 11 | Transplant May 6 | From Jul 17 |
| Eggplant | Mar 11 | Transplant May 6 | From Jul 20 |
| Basil | Mar 25 | Transplant May 6 | From Jun 17 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 11 | Transplant Apr 22 | From Jul 31 |
| Lettuce | Mar 11 | Transplant Apr 8Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 18Fall: from Oct 6 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1Fall: direct sow Sep 3 | From May 11Fall: from Oct 13 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1Fall: direct sow Aug 13 | From May 31Fall: from Oct 12 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1Fall: direct sow Sep 17 | From Apr 26Fall: from Oct 12 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 8 | From Jun 17 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 15 | From Jun 9 |
| Kale | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15Fall: direct sow Aug 13 | From Jun 9Fall: from Oct 7 |
| Broccoli | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15 | From Jun 19 |
| Cabbage | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15 | From Jun 24 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 8 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Jun 23 |
| Zucchini | Apr 8 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Jun 18 |
| Winter squash | Apr 8 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Jul 28 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 29 | From Jun 23 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 15 | From Jul 4 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 29 to Nov 5 | Around Jul 15 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Detroit's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Detroit
Plant garlic Oct 29 to Nov 5. That is one to two weeks after Detroit's average first fall frost of Oct 22, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 15 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Detroit.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Detroit:
- Peas: sow Aug 13, ready from about Oct 12
- Kale: sow Aug 13, ready from about Oct 7
- Lettuce: sow Aug 27, ready from about Oct 6
- Spinach: sow Sep 3, ready from about Oct 13
- Radishes: sow Sep 17, ready from about Oct 12
Nearby planting calendars
Detroit planting questions
When is the last frost in Detroit?
The average last spring frost in Detroit is Apr 22, and the average first fall frost is Oct 22, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Detroit?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 11, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 6, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Detroit in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 29 to Nov 5. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 13, lettuce around Aug 27, spinach around Sep 3 and radishes around Sep 17.