When to plant watermelon in Michigan

Watermelon
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
Mar 30–Apr 6
Plant out, Detroit
May 11–May 25
Sow outdoors, Detroit
May 11–May 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 3
Last frost, Detroit
Apr 27

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon 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 outSow outdoorsLast frost
DetroitMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
Grand RapidsApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
WarrenMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Sterling HeightsApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Ann ArborApr 7 to Apr 14May 19 to Jun 2May 19 to Jun 2May 5
LansingApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
DearbornApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
LivoniaApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
TroyMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Farmington HillsApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
WestlandMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
FlintApr 5 to Apr 12May 17 to May 31May 17 to May 31May 3
WyomingApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
Rochester HillsMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
SouthfieldApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
KalamazooMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
NoviApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
PontiacMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
TaylorMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Dearborn HeightsApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
St. Clair ShoresApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Royal OakMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
KentwoodApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Battle CreekApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
PortageMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
East LansingMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
RosevilleApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
SaginawApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
MidlandApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Lincoln ParkApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
MuskegonApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
HollandMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
EastpointeApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Bay CityMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
JacksonApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
BurtonApr 10 to Apr 17May 22 to Jun 5May 22 to Jun 5May 8
Oak ParkMar 30 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25Apr 27
SouthgateMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
Forest HillsApr 1 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27Apr 29
Madison HeightsMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Port HuronMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
Allen ParkApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
HamtramckMar 24 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 21
Garden CityApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
Auburn HillsMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
WalkerApr 8 to Apr 15May 20 to Jun 3May 20 to Jun 3May 6
AllendaleApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
OkemosMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
HoltMar 31 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26Apr 28
Norton ShoresApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
InksterMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
RomulusMar 23 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 20
WyandotteApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
WaverlyApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
MarquetteApr 10 to Apr 17May 22 to Jun 5May 22 to Jun 5May 8
BirminghamMar 29 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Mount PleasantApr 2 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28Apr 30
AdrianApr 3 to Apr 10May 15 to May 29May 15 to May 29May 1
MonroeMar 26 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 23

Questions

When should I plant watermelon 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 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; 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

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Michigan