When to plant basil in Michigan

Basil
Plant out in Detroit
May 4–May 18

Across Michigan the window opens between April 26 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Detroit
Mar 16–Mar 30
Plant out, Detroit
May 4–May 18
Sow outdoors, Detroit
May 4–May 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 28
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DetroitMay 4–May 18
Grand RapidsMay 13–May 27
WarrenApr 28–May 12
Sterling HeightsMay 7–May 21
Ann ArborMay 12–May 26
LansingMay 8–May 22
DearbornMay 8–May 22
LivoniaMay 8–May 22
TroyMay 3–May 17
Farmington HillsMay 8–May 22
WestlandApr 27–May 11
FlintMay 10–May 24
WyomingMay 13–May 27
Rochester HillsMay 3–May 17
SouthfieldMay 8–May 22
KalamazooMay 5–May 19
NoviMay 8–May 22
PontiacMay 3–May 17
TaylorApr 27–May 11
Dearborn HeightsMay 8–May 22
St. Clair ShoresMay 6–May 20
Royal OakApr 28–May 12
KentwoodMay 7–May 21
Battle CreekMay 7–May 21
PortageMay 5–May 19
East LansingMay 5–May 19
RosevilleMay 6–May 20
SaginawMay 6–May 20
MidlandMay 6–May 20
Lincoln ParkMay 8–May 22
All 59 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
DetroitMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
Grand RapidsMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
WarrenMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Sterling HeightsMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
Ann ArborMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
LansingMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
DearbornMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
LivoniaMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
TroyMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
Farmington HillsMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
WestlandMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
FlintMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
WyomingMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
Rochester HillsMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
SouthfieldMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
KalamazooMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
NoviMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
PontiacMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
TaylorMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
St. Clair ShoresMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
Royal OakMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
KentwoodMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
Battle CreekMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
PortageMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
East LansingMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
RosevilleMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
SaginawMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
MidlandMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
Lincoln ParkMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
MuskegonMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
HollandMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
EastpointeMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
Bay CityMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
JacksonMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
BurtonMar 27 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 8
Oak ParkMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
SouthgateMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Forest HillsMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
Madison HeightsMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Port HuronMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
Allen ParkMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
HamtramckMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Garden CityMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
Auburn HillsMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
WalkerMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
AllendaleMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
OkemosMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
HoltMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
Norton ShoresMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
InksterMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
RomulusMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
WyandotteMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
WaverlyMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
MarquetteMar 27 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 8
BirminghamMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
Mount PleasantMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
AdrianMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
MonroeMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant basil in Michigan?

In Detroit, plant out from May 4 to May 18. Across Michigan the window opens between April 26 and May 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan