When to plant peppers in Michigan

Peppers
Plant out in Detroit
May 11–May 25

Across Michigan the window opens between May 3 and May 22. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Detroit
Feb 16–Mar 2
Plant out, Detroit
May 11–May 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 13
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DetroitMay 11–May 25
Grand RapidsMay 20–Jun 3
WarrenMay 5–May 19
Sterling HeightsMay 14–May 28
Ann ArborMay 19–Jun 2
LansingMay 15–May 29
DearbornMay 15–May 29
LivoniaMay 15–May 29
TroyMay 10–May 24
Farmington HillsMay 15–May 29
WestlandMay 4–May 18
FlintMay 17–May 31
WyomingMay 20–Jun 3
Rochester HillsMay 10–May 24
SouthfieldMay 15–May 29
KalamazooMay 12–May 26
NoviMay 15–May 29
PontiacMay 10–May 24
TaylorMay 4–May 18
Dearborn HeightsMay 15–May 29
St. Clair ShoresMay 13–May 27
Royal OakMay 5–May 19
KentwoodMay 14–May 28
Battle CreekMay 14–May 28
PortageMay 12–May 26
East LansingMay 12–May 26
RosevilleMay 13–May 27
SaginawMay 13–May 27
MidlandMay 13–May 27
Lincoln ParkMay 15–May 29
All 59 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
DetroitFeb 16 to Mar 2May 11 to May 25Apr 27
Grand RapidsFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
WarrenFeb 10 to Feb 24May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Sterling HeightsFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Ann ArborFeb 24 to Mar 10May 19 to Jun 2May 5
LansingFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
DearbornFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
LivoniaFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
TroyFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Farmington HillsFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
WestlandFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
FlintFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
WyomingFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
Rochester HillsFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
SouthfieldFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
KalamazooFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
NoviFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
PontiacFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
TaylorFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
St. Clair ShoresFeb 18 to Mar 4May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Royal OakFeb 10 to Feb 24May 5 to May 19Apr 21
KentwoodFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Battle CreekFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
PortageFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
East LansingFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
RosevilleFeb 18 to Mar 4May 13 to May 27Apr 29
SaginawFeb 18 to Mar 4May 13 to May 27Apr 29
MidlandFeb 18 to Mar 4May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Lincoln ParkFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
MuskegonFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
HollandFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
EastpointeFeb 18 to Mar 4May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Bay CityFeb 16 to Mar 2May 11 to May 25Apr 27
JacksonFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
BurtonFeb 27 to Mar 13May 22 to Jun 5May 8
Oak ParkFeb 16 to Mar 2May 11 to May 25Apr 27
SouthgateFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Forest HillsFeb 18 to Mar 4May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Madison HeightsFeb 10 to Feb 24May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Port HuronFeb 8 to Feb 22May 3 to May 17Apr 19
Allen ParkFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
HamtramckFeb 10 to Feb 24May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Garden CityFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
Auburn HillsFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
WalkerFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
AllendaleFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
OkemosFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
HoltFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
Norton ShoresFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
InksterFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
RomulusFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
WyandotteFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
WaverlyFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
MarquetteFeb 27 to Mar 13May 22 to Jun 5May 8
BirminghamFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Mount PleasantFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
AdrianFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
MonroeFeb 12 to Feb 26May 7 to May 21Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Michigan?

In Detroit, plant out from May 11 to May 25. Across Michigan the window opens between May 3 and May 22, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan