When to plant pumpkins in Michigan

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Detroit
May 11–May 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 13
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
DetroitMay 11 to May 25Apr 27
Grand RapidsMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
WarrenMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
Sterling HeightsMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
Ann ArborMay 19 to Jun 2May 5
LansingMay 15 to May 29May 1
DearbornMay 15 to May 29May 1
LivoniaMay 15 to May 29May 1
TroyMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
Farmington HillsMay 15 to May 29May 1
WestlandMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
FlintMay 17 to May 31May 3
WyomingMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
Rochester HillsMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
SouthfieldMay 15 to May 29May 1
KalamazooMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
NoviMay 15 to May 29May 1
PontiacMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
TaylorMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsMay 15 to May 29May 1
St. Clair ShoresMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
Royal OakMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
KentwoodMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
Battle CreekMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
PortageMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
East LansingMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
RosevilleMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
SaginawMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
MidlandMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
Lincoln ParkMay 15 to May 29May 1
MuskegonMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
HollandMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
EastpointeMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
Bay CityMay 11 to May 25Apr 27
JacksonMay 15 to May 29May 1
BurtonMay 22 to Jun 5May 8
Oak ParkMay 11 to May 25Apr 27
SouthgateMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
Forest HillsMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
Madison HeightsMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
Port HuronMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
Allen ParkMay 15 to May 29May 1
HamtramckMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
Garden CityMay 15 to May 29May 1
Auburn HillsMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
WalkerMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
AllendaleMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
OkemosMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
HoltMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
Norton ShoresMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
InksterMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
RomulusMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
WyandotteMay 15 to May 29May 1
WaverlyMay 15 to May 29May 1
MarquetteMay 22 to Jun 5May 8
BirminghamMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
Mount PleasantMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
AdrianMay 15 to May 29May 1
MonroeMay 7 to May 21Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Michigan?

In Detroit, sow outdoors 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?

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

More for Michigan

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan