When to plant tomatoes in Michigan
Plant out in Detroit
May 4–May 18
Across Michigan the window opens between April 26 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Start indoors, Detroit
- Mar 2–Mar 16
- Plant out, Detroit
- May 4–May 18
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Jul 18
- Last frost, Detroit
- Apr 27
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.
Tomatoes planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DetroitMay 4–May 18
Grand RapidsMay 13–May 27
WarrenApr 28–May 12
Sterling HeightsMay 7–May 21
Ann ArborMay 12–May 26
LansingMay 8–May 22
DearbornMay 8–May 22
LivoniaMay 8–May 22
TroyMay 3–May 17
Farmington HillsMay 8–May 22
WestlandApr 27–May 11
FlintMay 10–May 24
WyomingMay 13–May 27
Rochester HillsMay 3–May 17
SouthfieldMay 8–May 22
KalamazooMay 5–May 19
NoviMay 8–May 22
PontiacMay 3–May 17
TaylorApr 27–May 11
Dearborn HeightsMay 8–May 22
St. Clair ShoresMay 6–May 20
Royal OakApr 28–May 12
KentwoodMay 7–May 21
Battle CreekMay 7–May 21
PortageMay 5–May 19
East LansingMay 5–May 19
RosevilleMay 6–May 20
SaginawMay 6–May 20
MidlandMay 6–May 20
Lincoln ParkMay 8–May 22
All 59 cities
| City | Start indoors | Plant out | Last frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | Mar 2 to Mar 16 | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Grand Rapids | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | May 13 to May 27 | May 6 |
| Warren | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Sterling Heights | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Ann Arbor | Mar 10 to Mar 24 | May 12 to May 26 | May 5 |
| Lansing | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Dearborn | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Livonia | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Troy | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Farmington Hills | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Westland | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Flint | Mar 8 to Mar 22 | May 10 to May 24 | May 3 |
| Wyoming | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | May 13 to May 27 | May 6 |
| Rochester Hills | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Southfield | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Kalamazoo | Mar 3 to Mar 17 | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Novi | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Pontiac | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Taylor | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Dearborn Heights | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| St. Clair Shores | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Royal Oak | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Kentwood | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Battle Creek | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Portage | Mar 3 to Mar 17 | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| East Lansing | Mar 3 to Mar 17 | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Roseville | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Saginaw | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Midland | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Lincoln Park | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Muskegon | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Holland | Mar 3 to Mar 17 | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Eastpointe | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Bay City | Mar 2 to Mar 16 | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Jackson | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Burton | Mar 13 to Mar 27 | May 15 to May 29 | May 8 |
| Oak Park | Mar 2 to Mar 16 | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Southgate | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Forest Hills | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Madison Heights | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Port Huron | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Allen Park | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Hamtramck | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Garden City | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Auburn Hills | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Walker | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | May 13 to May 27 | May 6 |
| Allendale | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Okemos | Mar 3 to Mar 17 | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Holt | Mar 3 to Mar 17 | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Norton Shores | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Inkster | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Romulus | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Wyandotte | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Waverly | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Marquette | Mar 13 to Mar 27 | May 15 to May 29 | May 8 |
| Birmingham | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Mount Pleasant | Mar 5 to Mar 19 | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Adrian | Mar 6 to Mar 20 | May 8 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Monroe | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
Questions
When should I plant tomatoes in Michigan?
In Detroit, plant out from May 4 to May 18. Across Michigan the window opens between April 26 and May 15, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
More for Michigan
Potatoes
Tulip bulbs
Garlic
Pumpkins
Strawberries
Onions
Carrots
Sunflowers
Cucumbers
Daffodil bulbs
Corn
Sweet potatoes
Asparagus
Watermelon
Lettuce
Green beans
Tomatoes in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming