When to plant onions in Michigan

Plant out in Detroit

Mar 16–Apr 6

Across Michigan the window opens between March 8 and March 27. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Detroit: Feb 2–Mar 2
Plant out, Detroit: Mar 16–Apr 6
Last frost, Detroit: Apr 27

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Northern gardens need long-day varieties and southern gardens need short-day ones. A wrong pick gives small bulbs.

Onions planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

DetroitMar 16–Apr 6

Grand RapidsMar 25–Apr 15

WarrenMar 10–Mar 31

Sterling HeightsMar 19–Apr 9

Ann ArborMar 24–Apr 14

LansingMar 20–Apr 10

DearbornMar 20–Apr 10

LivoniaMar 20–Apr 10

TroyMar 15–Apr 5

Farmington HillsMar 20–Apr 10

WestlandMar 9–Mar 30

FlintMar 22–Apr 12

WyomingMar 25–Apr 15

Rochester HillsMar 15–Apr 5

SouthfieldMar 20–Apr 10

KalamazooMar 17–Apr 7

NoviMar 20–Apr 10

PontiacMar 15–Apr 5

TaylorMar 9–Mar 30

Dearborn HeightsMar 20–Apr 10

St. Clair ShoresMar 18–Apr 8

Royal OakMar 10–Mar 31

KentwoodMar 19–Apr 9

Battle CreekMar 19–Apr 9

PortageMar 17–Apr 7

East LansingMar 17–Apr 7

RosevilleMar 18–Apr 8

SaginawMar 18–Apr 8

MidlandMar 18–Apr 8

Lincoln ParkMar 20–Apr 10

All 59 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant onions in Michigan?

In Detroit, plant out from March 16 to April 6. Across Michigan the window opens between March 8 and March 27, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan