Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Lansing, Michigan

Typical last spring frost May 1 (1 spring in 10 later than May 18). Typical first fall frost October 13 (1 fall in 10 earlier than September 29). Growing season about 162 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until April 18 and fades out by May 18. It is unlikely from then until September 29, and likely again after October 28. The dashed lines are the typical dates, May 1 and October 13.

Your season is too short for a separate fall planting of cabbage: sown late enough to be a fall crop, it wouldn't be ready before the typical first frost. Your spring planting is your harvest.

January

Nothing to start this month.

February

  • February 13 to March 13: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • February 27 to March 27: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 13 to April 3: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • March 20 to April 3: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • March 27 to April 10: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)

April

  • April 3 to 17: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • April 3 to 17: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • April 17 to May 1: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • April 17 to May 1: Cauliflower (plant out)

May

  • May 1: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • May 15: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • May 15: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

June

  • June 7 to 21: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 17: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 21: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 22: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 26: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 27: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 31: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 10: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 20: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 30: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 29: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

October

Nothing to start this month.

November

  • November 3 to 10: Garlic (plant cloves)

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Lansing Capital City Airport (station USW00014836), 5 miles from the center of Lansing. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/michigan/lansing/

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