When to plant collard greens in Michigan

Plant out in Detroit

Mar 30–Apr 13

Across Michigan the window opens between March 22 and April 10. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Plant out, Detroit: Mar 30–Apr 13
Fall planting, Detroit: Aug 2–Aug 16
Last frost, Detroit: Apr 27

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Collards handle both heat and frost better than most greens.

Collard greens planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

DetroitMar 30–Apr 13

Grand RapidsApr 8–Apr 22

WarrenMar 24–Apr 7

Sterling HeightsApr 2–Apr 16

Ann ArborApr 7–Apr 21

LansingApr 3–Apr 17

DearbornApr 3–Apr 17

LivoniaApr 3–Apr 17

TroyMar 29–Apr 12

Farmington HillsApr 3–Apr 17

WestlandMar 23–Apr 6

FlintApr 5–Apr 19

WyomingApr 8–Apr 22

Rochester HillsMar 29–Apr 12

SouthfieldApr 3–Apr 17

KalamazooMar 31–Apr 14

NoviApr 3–Apr 17

PontiacMar 29–Apr 12

TaylorMar 23–Apr 6

Dearborn HeightsApr 3–Apr 17

St. Clair ShoresApr 1–Apr 15

Royal OakMar 24–Apr 7

KentwoodApr 2–Apr 16

Battle CreekApr 2–Apr 16

PortageMar 31–Apr 14

East LansingMar 31–Apr 14

RosevilleApr 1–Apr 15

SaginawApr 1–Apr 15

MidlandApr 1–Apr 15

Lincoln ParkApr 3–Apr 17

All 59 cities

City	Plant out	Fall planting	Last frost
Detroit	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Aug 2 to Aug 16	Apr 27
Grand Rapids	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Jul 18 to Aug 1	May 6
Warren	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 21
Sterling Heights	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 30
Ann Arbor	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Jul 18 to Aug 1	May 5
Lansing	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 21 to Aug 4	May 1
Dearborn	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
Livonia	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 25 to Aug 8	May 1
Troy	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 26
Farmington Hills	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 25 to Aug 8	May 1
Westland	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Aug 4 to Aug 18	Apr 20
Flint	Apr 5 to Apr 19	Jul 21 to Aug 4	May 3
Wyoming	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Jul 18 to Aug 1	May 6
Rochester Hills	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 26
Southfield	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 25 to Aug 8	May 1
Kalamazoo	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jul 26 to Aug 9	Apr 28
Novi	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 25 to Aug 8	May 1
Pontiac	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 26
Taylor	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Aug 4 to Aug 18	Apr 20
Dearborn Heights	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
St. Clair Shores	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 29
Royal Oak	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 21
Kentwood	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Jul 22 to Aug 5	Apr 30
Battle Creek	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Jul 27 to Aug 10	Apr 30
Portage	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jul 26 to Aug 9	Apr 28
East Lansing	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jul 25 to Aug 8	Apr 28
Roseville	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 29
Saginaw	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Jul 29 to Aug 12	Apr 29
Midland	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Jul 24 to Aug 7	Apr 29
Lincoln Park	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
Muskegon	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Jul 27 to Aug 10	Apr 30
Holland	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jul 29 to Aug 12	Apr 28
Eastpointe	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 29
Bay City	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Jul 28 to Aug 11	Apr 27
Jackson	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 22 to Aug 5	May 1
Burton	Apr 10 to Apr 24	May 8
Oak Park	Mar 30 to Apr 13	Aug 2 to Aug 16	Apr 27
Southgate	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Aug 4 to Aug 18	Apr 20
Forest Hills	Apr 1 to Apr 15	Jul 28 to Aug 11	Apr 29
Madison Heights	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 21
Port Huron	Mar 22 to Apr 5	Aug 11 to Aug 25	Apr 19
Allen Park	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
Hamtramck	Mar 24 to Apr 7	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 21
Garden City	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
Auburn Hills	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 26
Walker	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Jul 18 to Aug 1	May 6
Allendale	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 30
Okemos	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jul 25 to Aug 8	Apr 28
Holt	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Jul 25 to Aug 8	Apr 28
Norton Shores	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Jul 27 to Aug 10	Apr 30
Inkster	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Aug 4 to Aug 18	Apr 20
Romulus	Mar 23 to Apr 6	Aug 4 to Aug 18	Apr 20
Wyandotte	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
Waverly	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 21 to Aug 4	May 1
Marquette	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Jul 29 to Aug 12	May 8
Birmingham	Mar 29 to Apr 12	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 26
Mount Pleasant	Apr 2 to Apr 16	Jul 28 to Aug 11	Apr 30
Adrian	Apr 3 to Apr 17	Jul 23 to Aug 6	May 1
Monroe	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant collard greens in Michigan?

In Detroit, plant out from March 30 to April 13. Across Michigan the window opens between March 22 and April 10, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Collard greens in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan