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Dearborn, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates

Dearborn 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

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, 3.1 miles W of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Dearborn

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Dearborn

All 4 of Dearborn's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Dearborn, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
481206bDearborn, 3.1 mi WMay 1Oct 15
481246bDearborn, 3.1 mi WMay 1Oct 15
481266bDearborn, 3.1 mi WMay 1Oct 15
481286bDearborn, 3.1 mi WMay 1Oct 15

Dearborn also supplies the frost dates for Dearborn Heights, so their planting calendars match Dearborn's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Dearborn

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 25 to Apr 8May 20 to Jun 3—
Strawberries—Mar 20 to Apr 3—
LettuceMar 6 to 20Apr 24 to May 8Jul 16 to Aug 20
CilantroMar 20 to Apr 3May 1 to 8—
BasilApr 1 to 15May 20 to 27—
Potatoes—Apr 22 to 29—
Garlic—Mar 20 to Apr 3Oct 15 to 29
OnionsJan 9 to Feb 20Apr 3 to 17—
CucumbersApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
PumpkinsApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
PeppersMar 4 to Apr 1May 20 to Jun 3—
Carrots—Apr 10 to May 1Jul 23 to Aug 13
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 4 to 11—
WatermelonsApr 15 to 29May 20 to Jun 3—
Sweet Corn—May 1 to 15—
Green Beans—May 20 to Jun 3—
ZucchiniApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
BroccoliFeb 13 to Mar 6Apr 3 to 17Jul 30 to Aug 27
Peas—Mar 20 to Apr 3Jul 23 to Aug 6
SpinachMar 20 to 27Apr 24 to May 8Aug 6 to Sep 10
Sunflowers—May 1 to 22—
ZinniasMay 24 to 31Jun 21 to Jul 5—
Tulips——Sep 3 to Oct 29
Daffodils——Sep 3 to Oct 15
Grass Seed—Mar 20 to Apr 3Sep 3 to 17

Nearby cities

Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Dearborn

Questions

When is the last frost in Dearborn?

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 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?

Start seeds indoors March 25 to April 8 and set plants out May 20 to June 3.

When is the first frost in Dearborn?

Around October 15 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.