Michigan frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Michigan’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among Michigan’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Apr 20 in Westland to May 6 in Grand Rapids. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Detroit	Apr 27	Oct 25	181	6b	Dearborn #2, MI, 4 mi
Grand Rapids	May 6	Oct 10	157	6a	E Grand Rapids, MI, 3 mi
Warren	Apr 21	Oct 31	193	6b	Detroit City Airport, MI, 6 mi
Sterling Heights	Apr 30	Oct 24	177	6a–6b	Mt Clemens Ang Base, MI, 11 mi
Ann Arbor	May 5	Oct 10	158	6a	Ann Arbor Se, MI, 3 mi
Lansing	May 1	Oct 13	165	6a	Lansing Capital City Airport, MI, 5 mi
Dearborn	May 1	Oct 15	167	6b	Dearborn, MI
Livonia	May 1	Oct 17	169	6a–6b	Farmington, MI, 5 mi
Troy	Apr 26	Oct 22	179	6a–6b	Pontiac Wwtp, MI, 7 mi
Farmington Hills	May 1	Oct 17	169	6a–6b	Farmington, MI
Westland	Apr 20	Oct 27	190	6a–6b	Detroit Metro Airport, MI, 7 mi
Flint	May 3	Oct 13	163	6a	Flint 7W, MI, 4 mi
Wyoming	May 6	Oct 10	157	6a	E Grand Rapids, MI, 6 mi
Rochester Hills	Apr 26	Oct 22	179	6a–6b	Pontiac Wwtp, MI, 5 mi
Southfield	May 1	Oct 17	169	6b	Farmington, MI, 5 mi
Kalamazoo	Apr 28	Oct 18	173	6a	Kalamazoo Battle Ck Intl Airport, MI, 3 mi
Novi	May 1	Oct 17	169	6a	Farmington, MI, 6 mi
Pontiac	Apr 26	Oct 22	179	6a	Pontiac Wwtp, MI, 2 mi
Taylor	Apr 20	Oct 27	190	6b	Detroit Metro Airport, MI, 3 mi
Dearborn Heights	May 1	Oct 15	167	6b	Dearborn, MI, 3 mi

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Detroit

Timed from Detroit’s average last frost of Apr 27, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 4 to May 11
Peppers	Mar 2 to Mar 16	May 11
Lettuce	Feb 23 to Mar 2	Mar 30 to Apr 6
Broccoli	Feb 16 to Mar 2	Mar 30 to Apr 13
Cucumbers	Apr 6 to Apr 13	May 4 to May 11
Basil	Mar 16 to Mar 30	May 11

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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