Dearborn Heights, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Dearborn Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 166 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- May 1
- Typical first frost
- October 15
- Frost-free season
- 166 days
Frost dates in Dearborn Heights
Last spring frost
- April 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 18Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 166 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 20 and returns around October 28.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dearborn, 2.6 miles ESE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Dearborn Heights shares this station with Dearborn, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Dearborn Heights
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Dearborn Heights
Dearborn Heights's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 20 in 48125 to May 1 in 48127. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48125 | 6b | Detroit Metro Airport, 4.6 mi SW | Apr 20 | Oct 27 |
| 48127 | 6b | Dearborn, 2.6 mi ESE | May 1 | Oct 15 |
Dearborn also supplies the frost dates for Dearborn, so their planting calendars match Dearborn Heights's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Dearborn Heights
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Cilantro | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Apr 1 to 15 | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Jan 9 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 4 to Apr 1 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 15 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 23 to Aug 6 |
| Spinach | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | May 24 to 31 | Jun 21 to Jul 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Sep 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Dearborn, MI zone 6b, last frost May 1
- Westland, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 20
- Livonia, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 20
- Taylor, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 20
- Southfield, MI zone 6b, last frost May 1
- Detroit, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Dearborn Heights
Questions
When is the last frost in Dearborn Heights?
Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Dearborn. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 18.
What planting zone is Dearborn Heights in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Dearborn Heights?
Start seeds indoors March 25 to April 8 and set plants out May 20 to June 3.
When is the first frost in Dearborn Heights?
Around October 15 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.