When to plant sweet potatoes in Michigan

Sweet potatoes
Plant out in Detroit
May 18–Jun 1

Across Michigan the window opens between May 10 and May 29. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Plant out, Detroit
May 18–Jun 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 13
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Plant out 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Set out slips when the soil is warm, around 65°F. They need a long, hot season.

Sweet potatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DetroitMay 18–Jun 1
Grand RapidsMay 27–Jun 10
WarrenMay 12–May 26
Sterling HeightsMay 21–Jun 4
Ann ArborMay 26–Jun 9
LansingMay 22–Jun 5
DearbornMay 22–Jun 5
LivoniaMay 22–Jun 5
TroyMay 17–May 31
Farmington HillsMay 22–Jun 5
WestlandMay 11–May 25
FlintMay 24–Jun 7
WyomingMay 27–Jun 10
Rochester HillsMay 17–May 31
SouthfieldMay 22–Jun 5
KalamazooMay 19–Jun 2
NoviMay 22–Jun 5
PontiacMay 17–May 31
TaylorMay 11–May 25
Dearborn HeightsMay 22–Jun 5
St. Clair ShoresMay 20–Jun 3
Royal OakMay 12–May 26
KentwoodMay 21–Jun 4
Battle CreekMay 21–Jun 4
PortageMay 19–Jun 2
East LansingMay 19–Jun 2
RosevilleMay 20–Jun 3
SaginawMay 20–Jun 3
MidlandMay 20–Jun 3
Lincoln ParkMay 22–Jun 5
All 59 cities
CityPlant outLast frost
DetroitMay 18 to Jun 1Apr 27
Grand RapidsMay 27 to Jun 10May 6
WarrenMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
Sterling HeightsMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
Ann ArborMay 26 to Jun 9May 5
LansingMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
DearbornMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
LivoniaMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
TroyMay 17 to May 31Apr 26
Farmington HillsMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
WestlandMay 11 to May 25Apr 20
FlintMay 24 to Jun 7May 3
WyomingMay 27 to Jun 10May 6
Rochester HillsMay 17 to May 31Apr 26
SouthfieldMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
KalamazooMay 19 to Jun 2Apr 28
NoviMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
PontiacMay 17 to May 31Apr 26
TaylorMay 11 to May 25Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
St. Clair ShoresMay 20 to Jun 3Apr 29
Royal OakMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
KentwoodMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
Battle CreekMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
PortageMay 19 to Jun 2Apr 28
East LansingMay 19 to Jun 2Apr 28
RosevilleMay 20 to Jun 3Apr 29
SaginawMay 20 to Jun 3Apr 29
MidlandMay 20 to Jun 3Apr 29
Lincoln ParkMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
MuskegonMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
HollandMay 19 to Jun 2Apr 28
EastpointeMay 20 to Jun 3Apr 29
Bay CityMay 18 to Jun 1Apr 27
JacksonMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
BurtonMay 29 to Jun 12May 8
Oak ParkMay 18 to Jun 1Apr 27
SouthgateMay 11 to May 25Apr 20
Forest HillsMay 20 to Jun 3Apr 29
Madison HeightsMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
Port HuronMay 10 to May 24Apr 19
Allen ParkMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
HamtramckMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
Garden CityMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
Auburn HillsMay 17 to May 31Apr 26
WalkerMay 27 to Jun 10May 6
AllendaleMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
OkemosMay 19 to Jun 2Apr 28
HoltMay 19 to Jun 2Apr 28
Norton ShoresMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
InksterMay 11 to May 25Apr 20
RomulusMay 11 to May 25Apr 20
WyandotteMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
WaverlyMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
MarquetteMay 29 to Jun 12May 8
BirminghamMay 17 to May 31Apr 26
Mount PleasantMay 21 to Jun 4Apr 30
AdrianMay 22 to Jun 5May 1
MonroeMay 14 to May 28Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant sweet potatoes in Michigan?

In Detroit, plant out from May 18 to June 1. Across Michigan the window opens between May 10 and May 29, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant out 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Michigan

Sweet potatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan