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Flint, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates

Flint is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 6 and the first fall frost around October 10, giving about 155 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a
Typical last frost
May 6
Typical first frost
October 10
Frost-free season
155 days

Frost dates in Flint

Last spring frost

  • April 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 10Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 155 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 26 and returns around October 23.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Flint Bishop International Airport, 3 miles SW 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 Flint

  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, kale, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, 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, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, 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, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, 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 Flint

All 5 of Flint's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Flint Bishop International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
485036aFlint Bishop International Airport, 3 mi SWMay 6Oct 10
485046aFlint Bishop International Airport, 6.1 mi SMay 6Oct 10
485056aFlint Bishop International Airport, 7.6 mi SSWMay 6Oct 10
485066aFlint Bishop International Airport, 9.4 mi SWMay 6Oct 10
485076aFlint Bishop International Airport, 1.6 mi WMay 6Oct 10

Planting dates for popular crops in Flint

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 29 to Apr 12May 24 to Jun 7—
Strawberries—Mar 25 to Apr 8—
LettuceMar 11 to 25Apr 29 to May 13Jul 11 to Aug 15
CilantroMar 25 to Apr 8May 6 to 13—
BasilApr 5 to 19May 24 to 31—
Potatoes—Apr 26 to May 3—
Garlic—Mar 25 to Apr 8Oct 10 to 24
OnionsJan 14 to Feb 25Apr 8 to 22—
CucumbersApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
PumpkinsApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
PeppersMar 8 to Apr 5May 24 to Jun 7—
Carrots—Apr 15 to May 6Jul 18 to Aug 8
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 8 to 15—
WatermelonsApr 19 to May 3May 24 to Jun 7—
Sweet Corn—May 6 to 20—
Green Beans—May 24 to Jun 7—
ZucchiniApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
BroccoliFeb 18 to Mar 11Apr 8 to 22Jul 25 to Aug 22
Peas—Mar 25 to Apr 8Jul 18 to Aug 1
SpinachMar 25 to Apr 1Apr 29 to May 13Aug 1 to Sep 5
Sunflowers—May 6 to 27—
ZinniasJun 1 to 8Jun 29 to Jul 13—
Tulips——Aug 29 to Oct 24
Daffodils——Aug 29 to Oct 10
Grass Seed—Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 29 to Sep 12

Nearby cities

Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Flint

Questions

When is the last frost in Flint?

Around May 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Flint Bishop International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 23.

What planting zone is Flint in?

USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Flint?

Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.

When is the first frost in Flint?

Around October 10 in a typical year, and before September 26 about 1 year in 10.