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Detroit, Michigan · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Detroit
This month's sowing list for Detroit, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
1 vegetable to sow or plant now
1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 29, and frost is unlikely after about May 14.
Sow or plant in Detroit in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
Nothing this month.
Transplant
- Garlic
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Bush beans
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Kale
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Peas
- Pole beans
- Potato
- Radish
- Scallions
- Strawberry
- Sweet corn
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
- Winter squash
- Zucchini
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Detroit
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: April to May.
Transplant: May to July.
Best time to start: May.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 17 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: April to August.
Best time to start: April to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 9 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: September to November.
Best time to start: September to November.
Pick: June to August.
First pick about 36 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: April to May and July to September.
Best time to start: April to May and August to September.
Pick: June to December.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: April to August.
Best time to start: April to August.
Pick: June to December.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: May to July.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 8 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: February to April.
Transplant: April to May.
Best time to start: April to May.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 20 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: April to June.
Best time to start: April to June.
Pick: August to November.
First pick about 14 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: May to June.
Direct sow: May to June.
Transplant: May to June.
Best time to start: May to June.
Pick: August to October.
First pick about 14 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: May to July.
Direct sow: May to August.
Transplant: May to August.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Detroit
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | |||||||
| Basil | T | T | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Bell pepper | T | T | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | |||||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||||
| Broccoli | T | P | P | T | T | P | about 12 weeks | ||||||
| Brussels sprouts | T | P | about 18 weeks | ||||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||||
| Cabbage | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 12 weeks | ||||||
| Cantaloupe | T | S | P | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | about 14 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celeriac | T | P | about 22 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celery | T | T | P | P | P | about 19 weeks | |||||||
| Chives | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Cilantro | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||||||||
| Cucumber | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||
| Eggplant | T | P | P | about 18 weeks | |||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | P | about 36 weeks | |||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | T | P | P | about 19 weeks | ||||||||
| Kale | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Leek | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | |||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Okra | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||||
| Onion | T | T | P | P | about 20 weeks | ||||||||
| Parsley | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Parsnip | S | about 11 weeks | |||||||||||
| Peas | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||
| Potato | P | P | P | P | P | about 9 weeks | |||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 3 weeks | ||||||
| Runner beans | S | S | about 10 weeks | ||||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||||||
| Spinach | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | about 14 weeks | |||||||||
| Sweet corn | S | S | S | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Sweet potato | P | about 11 weeks | |||||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Tomato | T | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Watermelon | T | S | about 11 weeks | ||||||||||
| Winter squash | S | S | about 14 weeks | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: parsnip and sweet potato.
Detroit season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, bush beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, celeriac, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: celeriac, cilantro, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, spinach and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: arugula, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, okra, runner beans, sweet potato and turnip.
Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, pole beans, potato, runner beans, scallions, strawberry, sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Fall September to November
Time to start: cilantro, garlic and spinach.
Last chance for: arugula, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, spinach and turnip.
Winter December to February
Time to start: celeriac, celery, leek and onion.
Last chance for: celeriac.
Frost in Detroit
- Last frost, most years
- around April 29
- Frost is unlikely after
- about May 14
- First frost, most years
- around October 24
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 178
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Harder to grow in Detroit
Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: fava beans.
Too cold here: rutabaga.
Questions about planting in Detroit
What can I plant now in Detroit?
In October, 1 vegetables can be sown or planted in Detroit, including garlic. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Detroit?
In Detroit, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is in May. Picking runs from August to September.
When should I plant potatoes in Detroit?
In Detroit, plant potatoes from April to August. The best time to start is from April to July. Picking runs from July to October.
When should I plant garlic in Detroit?
In Detroit, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from June to August.
When is the last frost in Detroit?
In most years the last frost in Detroit comes around April 29. Frost is unlikely after about May 14, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 24.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Detroit?
The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), cilantro (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), lettuce (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Detroit. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).