Southfield, Michigan planting calendar and frost dates
Southfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 17, giving about 165 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- May 1
- Typical first frost
- October 17
- Frost-free season
- 165 days
Frost dates in Southfield
Last spring frost
- April 19Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 17Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 29Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 165 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 22 and returns around October 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Farmington, 3.6 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.
What to plant each month in Southfield
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: 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
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, 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 Southfield
Southfield's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 21 in 48075 to May 1 in 48034. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48033 | 6b | Farmington, 3.6 mi W | May 1 | Oct 17 |
| 48034 | 6b | Farmington, 4.2 mi WSW | May 1 | Oct 17 |
| 48075 | 6b | Detroit City Airport, 11.8 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
| 48076 | 6b | Detroit City Airport, 12.8 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
Farmington also supplies the frost dates for Farmington Hills, so their planting calendars match Southfield's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Southfield
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 18 to Aug 22 |
| Cilantro | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 17 to 31 |
| Onions | Jan 9 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 8 to Apr 5 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 25 to Aug 15 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 1 to 29 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 25 to Aug 8 |
| Spinach | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Aug 8 to Sep 12 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 1 to 8 | Jun 29 to Jul 13 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 5 to Oct 31 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 5 to Oct 17 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Sep 5 to 19 |
Nearby cities
- Royal Oak, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
- Farmington Hills, MI zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Livonia, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 20
- Troy, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 26
- Dearborn Heights, MI zone 6b, last frost May 1
- Detroit, MI zone 6b, last frost Apr 21
Planting in MichiganAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Southfield
Questions
When is the last frost in Southfield?
Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Farmington. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 16.
What planting zone is Southfield in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Southfield?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.
When is the first frost in Southfield?
Around October 17 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.