When to plant corn in Michigan

Corn
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Detroit
May 4–May 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 3
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Plant in blocks of at least four rows rather than one long row. Corn is pollinated by wind.

Corn 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
DetroitMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
Grand RapidsMay 13 to May 27May 6
WarrenApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Sterling HeightsMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
Ann ArborMay 12 to May 26May 5
LansingMay 8 to May 22May 1
DearbornMay 8 to May 22May 1
LivoniaMay 8 to May 22May 1
TroyMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
Farmington HillsMay 8 to May 22May 1
WestlandApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
FlintMay 10 to May 24May 3
WyomingMay 13 to May 27May 6
Rochester HillsMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
SouthfieldMay 8 to May 22May 1
KalamazooMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
NoviMay 8 to May 22May 1
PontiacMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
TaylorApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsMay 8 to May 22May 1
St. Clair ShoresMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
Royal OakApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
KentwoodMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
Battle CreekMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
PortageMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
East LansingMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
RosevilleMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
SaginawMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
MidlandMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
Lincoln ParkMay 8 to May 22May 1
MuskegonMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
HollandMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
EastpointeMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
Bay CityMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
JacksonMay 8 to May 22May 1
BurtonMay 15 to May 29May 8
Oak ParkMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
SouthgateApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
Forest HillsMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
Madison HeightsApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Port HuronApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
Allen ParkMay 8 to May 22May 1
HamtramckApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
Garden CityMay 8 to May 22May 1
Auburn HillsMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
WalkerMay 13 to May 27May 6
AllendaleMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
OkemosMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
HoltMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
Norton ShoresMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
InksterApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
RomulusApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
WyandotteMay 8 to May 22May 1
WaverlyMay 8 to May 22May 1
MarquetteMay 15 to May 29May 8
BirminghamMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
Mount PleasantMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
AdrianMay 8 to May 22May 1
MonroeApr 30 to May 14Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant corn in Michigan?

In Detroit, sow outdoors 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?

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

Corn in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan