When to plant kale in Michigan

Kale
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
Sow outdoors, Detroit
Mar 30–Apr 13
Fall planting, Detroit
Aug 16–Aug 30
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Kale keeps producing through frost and often into winter.

Kale 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
CityPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingLast frost
DetroitMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 27
Grand RapidsApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Aug 1 to Aug 15May 6
WarrenMar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Aug 22 to Sep 5Apr 21
Sterling HeightsApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 30
Ann ArborApr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Aug 1 to Aug 15May 5
LansingApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 4 to Aug 18May 1
DearbornApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
LivoniaApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 8 to Aug 22May 1
TroyMar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
Farmington HillsApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 8 to Aug 22May 1
WestlandMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 20
FlintApr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Aug 4 to Aug 18May 3
WyomingApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Aug 1 to Aug 15May 6
Rochester HillsMar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
SouthfieldApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 8 to Aug 22May 1
KalamazooMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 28
NoviApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 8 to Aug 22May 1
PontiacMar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
TaylorMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
St. Clair ShoresApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 29
Royal OakMar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Aug 22 to Sep 5Apr 21
KentwoodApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 30
Battle CreekApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 30
PortageMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 28
East LansingMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 28
RosevilleApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 29
SaginawApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 29
MidlandApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Aug 7 to Aug 21Apr 29
Lincoln ParkApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
MuskegonApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 30
HollandMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 28
EastpointeApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 29
Bay CityMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 27
JacksonApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 5 to Aug 19May 1
BurtonApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24May 8
Oak ParkMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Aug 16 to Aug 30Apr 27
SouthgateMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 20
Forest HillsApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 29
Madison HeightsMar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Aug 22 to Sep 5Apr 21
Port HuronMar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 25 to Sep 8Apr 19
Allen ParkApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
HamtramckMar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Aug 22 to Sep 5Apr 21
Garden CityApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
Auburn HillsMar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
WalkerApr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Aug 1 to Aug 15May 6
AllendaleApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 30
OkemosMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 28
HoltMar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 28
Norton ShoresApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 30
InksterMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 20
RomulusMar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 20
WyandotteApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
WaverlyApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 4 to Aug 18May 1
MarquetteApr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Aug 12 to Aug 26May 8
BirminghamMar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
Mount PleasantApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 30
AdrianApr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Aug 6 to Aug 20May 1
MonroeMar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant kale 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 outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Kale in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan