Pontiac, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Pontiac is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 29 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 172 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 29
- Typical first frost
- October 20
- Frost-free season
- 172 days
Frost dates in Pontiac
Last spring frost
- April 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 2Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 172 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 18 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pontiac Oakland Co International Airport, 6.6 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. Pontiac shares this station with Novi, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Pontiac
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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
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, 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, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Pontiac
Pontiac's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 26 in 48341 to April 29 in 48340. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48340 | 6a | Pontiac Oakland Co International Airport, 6.6 mi W | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 48341 | 6a | Pontiac Wwtp, 2 mi ENE | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| 48342 | 6a | Pontiac Wwtp, 1 mi ESE | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
Pontiac Oakland Co International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Novi, so their planting calendars match Pontiac's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Pontiac
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Jul 21 to Aug 25 |
| Cilantro | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Onions | Jan 7 to Feb 18 | Apr 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 5 to Apr 2 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Peas | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Spinach | Mar 18 to 25 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 29 to May 20 | — |
| Zinnias | May 27 to Jun 3 | Jun 24 to Jul 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 8 to Nov 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 8 to Oct 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Rochester Hills, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Troy, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Royal Oak, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
- Southfield, MI zone 6b, last frost May 1
- Farmington Hills, MI zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Sterling Heights, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Pontiac
Questions
When is the last frost in Pontiac?
Around April 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Pontiac Oakland Co International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 14.
What planting zone is Pontiac 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 Pontiac?
Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.
When is the first frost in Pontiac?
Around October 20 in a typical year, and before October 5 about 1 year in 10.