Rochester Hills, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Rochester Hills is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 177 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 26
- Typical first frost
- October 22
- Frost-free season
- 177 days
Frost dates in Rochester Hills
Last spring frost
- April 15Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 22Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 177 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 16 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pontiac Wwtp, 3.7 miles WSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Rochester Hills shares this station with Troy, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Rochester Hills
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, 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: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
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, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, 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, daylilies, 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 Rochester Hills
All 3 of Rochester Hills's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Pontiac Wwtp, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48306 | 6a | Pontiac Wwtp, 8.1 mi SW | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| 48307 | 6a | Pontiac Wwtp, 6.9 mi WSW | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| 48309 | 6a | Pontiac Wwtp, 3.7 mi WSW | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
Pontiac Wwtp also supplies the frost dates for Troy, so their planting calendars match Rochester Hills's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Rochester Hills
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Cilantro | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Onions | Jan 4 to Feb 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | May 25 to Jun 1 | Jun 22 to Jul 6 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 10 to Nov 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 10 to Oct 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Troy, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Pontiac, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 29
- Sterling Heights, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
- Royal Oak, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
- Warren, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
- Southfield, MI zone 6b, last frost May 1
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Rochester Hills
Questions
When is the last frost in Rochester Hills?
Around April 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Pontiac Wwtp. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.
What planting zone is Rochester Hills 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 Rochester Hills?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Rochester Hills?
Around October 22 in a typical year, and before October 7 about 1 year in 10.