The Planting Dates for Vegetables in Michigan

Michigan's cold winters and short, but hot, summers create a conundrum for when to plant your vegetables there. If you plant them too early, the seeds may not grow, but waiting too long may not give them enough time to mature before frost comes.

Time Frame

• According to the Weather Channel, the last freeze date in Michigan is usually May 1 in southern Michigan and May 15 in the northern part of the state, indicating the first safe time to begin planting.

Cool-Season Vegetables

• When planting in Michigan, start with cool-season vegetables. These vegetables include spinach, lettuce, radishes and kale and can germinate in soil that is workable right after the last frost.

Warm-Season Vegetables

• Wait until the soil heats up before attempting to plant warm-weather vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplant. Many of these vegetables need a soil temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the danger of frost should be non-existent.