Farmington Hills, Michigan: planting zone & frost dates
Farmington Hills is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a, where the average coldest winter night reaches -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C). The typical last spring frost is around May 8 and the first fall frost around Oct 10.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | May 16 | Oct 1 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | May 8 | Oct 10 |
| Median (50%) | May 1 | Oct 17 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station FARMINGTON, MI (USC00202691), 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from the city center and 135 ft lower than the city center (-41 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 16 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 5 ZIP codes): 6a (77%), 6b (23%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for Farmington Hills
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost May 8, first frost Oct 10). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 15 – May 29 | — | — |
| Pepper | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 22 – Jun 5 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Apr 24 – May 15 | Apr 10 – May 22 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 |
| Green Beans | — | — | May 15 – Jun 19 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | May 15 – Jun 12 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 15 – May 29 | May 15 – Jun 5 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Cucumber | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 22 – May 29 | May 15 – Jun 5 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Carrot | — | — | Apr 17 – May 22 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Onion | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 10 – May 1 | — | — |
| Basil | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 22 – Jun 5 | May 22 – Jun 12 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | Aug 15 – Sep 12 |
| Kale | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 10 – May 1 | Apr 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 |
| Broccoli | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 24 – May 15 | — | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Peas | — | — | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Eggplant | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 22 – Jun 5 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | — | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Radish | — | — | Apr 3 – May 22 | Aug 29 – Sep 26 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 10 – May 1 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Apr 17 – May 29 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
Nearby cities in Michigan
- Livonia — zone 6b, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 10
- Southfield — zone 6b, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 10
- Westland — zone 6b, last frost Apr 28, first frost Oct 22
- Dearborn — zone 6b, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 9
- Troy — zone 6b, last frost May 2, first frost Oct 16
- Rochester Hills — zone 6a, last frost May 2, first frost Oct 16
More: all Michigan cities · other zone 6a cities: Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Milwaukee, WI, Colorado Springs, CO, Omaha, NE, Aurora, CO, Lincoln, NE, Fort Wayne, IN
Farmington Hills gardening questions
When is the last frost in Farmington Hills, MI?
Plan around May 8. At NOAA's Farmington, MI station, 1.5 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by May 1, and after May 16 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Apr 22. The last frost is fairly predictable here: only 27 days separate the 90% and 10% dates (median for cities on this site: 36 days).
When should I plant tomatoes in Farmington Hills, MI?
Start seeds indoors Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside May 15 – May 29, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 155 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Farmington Hills?
About 165 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 146 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 183 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 1 and a 30% chance by Oct 10. That ranks 11th longest of 15 Michigan cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Farmington Hills?
Count back from the first fall frost (Oct 10): transplant broccoli Jul 18 – Aug 1; sow kale Aug 1 – Aug 29; sow lettuce Aug 1 – Aug 29; sow radishes Aug 29 – Sep 26. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Oct 27. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Farmington Hills's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Farmington Hills is zone 6a on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
Is all of Farmington Hills in zone 6a?
No. Zone 6a covers about 77% of the city's land; the rest is in 6b (23%), measured across the city's 5 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.