When to plant in Dearborn Heights, MI
Planting dates worked out from Dearborn Heights's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 189 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalMay 2about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 201 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlySep 301 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 12about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 249 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 162 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Dearborn · 3.5 km away · station 184 m, town 189 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 19 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 | May 14 |
| Peas | — | Apr 2 – Apr 30 | May 27 |
| Bush beans | — | May 13 – Jun 3 | Jul 2 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 11 – May 23 | Jun 10 |
| Beet | — | Apr 11 – May 23 | May 31 |
| Potato | — | Apr 11 – May 2 | Jun 20 |
| Kale | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | May 22 |
| Broccoli | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 4 – Apr 25 | Jun 3 |
| Cucumber | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 9 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 4 |
| Winter squash | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 8 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 13 – Jun 3 | Jul 12 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 4 – Apr 25 | Jul 3 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 28 – Oct 26 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 2 – Apr 30 | May 10 |
| Basil | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 16 |
Dearborn Heights's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1953 | Apr 21 |
| 1954 | May 8 |
| 1955 | May 9 |
| 1956 | May 8 |
| 1957 | Apr 15 |
| 1958 | Apr 30 |
| 1959 | Apr 22 |
| 1960 | Apr 19 |
| 1961 | Apr 20 |
| 1962 | Apr 17 |
| 1963 | May 1 |
| 1966 | May 10 |
| 1967 | Apr 28 |
| 1968 | May 6 |
| 1969 | Apr 20 |
| 1970 | Apr 12 |
| 1971 | Apr 27 |
| 1972 | Apr 25 |
| 1973 | May 18 |
| 1974 | May 7 |
| 1975 | Apr 26 |
| 1976 | May 8 |
| 1977 | Apr 29 |
| 1978 | May 3 |
| 1979 | May 5 |
| 1980 | May 8 |
| 1982 | Apr 29 |
| 1984 | May 16 |
| 1986 | May 4 |
| 1987 | Apr 9 |
| 1988 | Apr 25 |
| 1989 | May 7 |
| 1990 | May 10 |
| 1991 | Apr 18 |
| 1992 | May 25 |
| 1993 | Apr 27 |
| 1994 | May 27 |
| 1995 | Apr 24 |
| 1996 | May 15 |
| 1997 | May 13 |
| 1998 | Apr 30 |
| 1999 | Apr 25 |
| 2000 | Apr 27 |
| 2003 | May 4 |
| 2004 | May 4 |
| 2005 | May 6 |
| 2006 | May 23 |
| 2007 | Apr 15 |
| 2008 | May 1 |
| 2011 | Apr 19 |
| 2012 | Apr 29 |
| 2013 | May 13 |
| 2014 | Apr 27 |
| 2015 | Apr 28 |
| 2016 | May 15 |
| 2017 | May 8 |
| 2018 | Apr 26 |
| 2019 | Apr 2 |
| 2022 | Apr 29 |
| 2023 | Apr 27 |
| 2024 | Apr 26 |
| 2025 | Apr 17 |
| 2026 | Apr 20 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1953 | 169 |
| 1954 | 163 |
| 1955 | 167 |
| 1956 | 154 |
| 1957 | 179 |
| 1958 | 158 |
| 1959 | 179 |
| 1960 | 183 |
| 1961 | 199 |
| 1962 | 189 |
| 1963 | 181 |
| 1966 | 167 |
| 1967 | 174 |
| 1968 | 176 |
| 1969 | 185 |
| 1970 | 186 |
| 1971 | 190 |
| 1972 | 167 |
| 1973 | 170 |
| 1974 | 138 |
| 1975 | 182 |
| 1976 | 138 |
| 1977 | 166 |
| 1978 | 157 |
| 1979 | 158 |
| 1980 | 157 |
| 1982 | 170 |
| 1984 | 169 |
| 1986 | 158 |
| 1987 | 177 |
| 1988 | 163 |
| 1989 | 139 |
| 1990 | 167 |
| 1991 | 161 |
| 1992 | 145 |
| 1993 | 155 |
| 1994 | 135 |
| 1995 | 151 |
| 1997 | 154 |
| 1998 | 174 |
| 1999 | 162 |
| 2000 | 162 |
| 2003 | 151 |
| 2004 | 151 |
| 2007 | 195 |
| 2008 | 170 |
| 2011 | 185 |
| 2012 | 165 |
| 2013 | 161 |
| 2014 | 167 |
| 2015 | 171 |
| 2016 | 147 |
| 2017 | 170 |
| 2018 | 172 |
| 2019 | 206 |
| 2022 | 161 |
| 2023 | 178 |
| 2024 | 173 |
| 2025 | 198 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1953 | 18.9 °C |
| 1954 | 18.3 °C |
| 1955 | 20.1 °C |
| 1956 | 17.6 °C |
| 1957 | 18.1 °C |
| 1958 | 17.7 °C |
| 1960 | 18.5 °C |
| 1961 | 17.7 °C |
| 1962 | 18.4 °C |
| 1963 | 17.7 °C |
| 1966 | 17.8 °C |
| 1967 | 17.6 °C |
| 1968 | 18.7 °C |
| 1969 | 18.4 °C |
| 1970 | 19.4 °C |
| 1971 | 18.9 °C |
| 1972 | 18.3 °C |
| 1973 | 19.0 °C |
| 1974 | 18.3 °C |
| 1975 | 17.1 °C |
| 1976 | 17.0 °C |
| 1977 | 18.1 °C |
| 1978 | 17.5 °C |
| 1979 | 16.7 °C |
| 1980 | 17.8 °C |
| 1982 | 17.2 °C |
| 1984 | 17.2 °C |
| 1986 | 17.9 °C |
| 1987 | 18.6 °C |
| 1988 | 18.7 °C |
| 1989 | 16.7 °C |
| 1990 | 17.3 °C |
| 1991 | 19.5 °C |
| 1992 | 15.9 °C |
| 1993 | 17.6 °C |
| 1994 | 17.3 °C |
| 1995 | 18.0 °C |
| 1997 | 16.3 °C |
| 1998 | 19.1 °C |
| 1999 | 18.9 °C |
| 2000 | 17.6 °C |
| 2003 | 17.7 °C |
| 2007 | 18.9 °C |
| 2008 | 18.4 °C |
| 2011 | 18.3 °C |
| 2012 | 18.7 °C |
| 2013 | 17.4 °C |
| 2014 | 17.5 °C |
| 2015 | 17.8 °C |
| 2016 | 18.2 °C |
| 2017 | 18.3 °C |
| 2018 | 18.5 °C |
| 2019 | 18.2 °C |
| 2022 | 18.6 °C |
| 2023 | 17.7 °C |
| 2024 | 19.2 °C |
| 2025 | 18.4 °C |
| 2026 | 18.9 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1953, Dearborn Heights's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Dearborn (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.