When to plant potatoes in Michigan

Potatoes
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Detroit
Mar 30–Apr 13
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed potatoes once the soil reaches about 45°F. Shoots that come up before the last frost can be covered with soil.

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

Questions

When should I plant potatoes in Michigan?

In Detroit, sow outdoors 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?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Potatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan