Michigan growing guide: zones, planting dates and where to start
How Michigan zones change planting dates, with spring dates for its main growing region.
Not yet expert-reviewed. Written by BAU Farm Intelligence from public extension and agency sources. Check dates and program details with your local extension office.
Zones across Michigan
Michigan covers USDA Zones 6a–6b on our calendar. A date that works in one part of the state can be weeks off in another, so plant by your zone, not the state.
- Zone 6a — Detroit and the southeast. Average last frost 05/01, first frost 10/01 (about 153 frost-free days).
- Zone 6b — The Detroit metro lakeshore. Average last frost 04/24, first frost 10/08 (about 167 frost-free days).
Spring dates for Detroit and nearby covered areas (Zone 6a)
- Tomatoes: set out May 8 – May 29; fall June 18 – July 9
- Peppers: set out May 15 – June 5; fall July 2 – July 23
- Sweet corn: seed May 1 – May 22; fall July 2 – July 23
- Cucumbers: set out May 8 – May 29; fall July 16 – August 6
- Summer squash: seed May 8 – May 29; fall July 23 – August 13
- Green beans (bush): seed May 1 – May 22; fall July 16 – August 6
- Cabbage: set out April 3 – April 24; fall June 18 – July 9
- Broccoli: set out April 3 – April 24; fall June 18 – July 9
These are averages worked out from frost dates, not a state extension schedule. Adjust for your field and the season.
Published costs per acre
- Michigan Cabbage Cost of Production 2024 (Bulletin E-3532), fresh market (Michigan State University Extension, 2024): about $6,869 per acre.
Where to sell in Michigan
- State buy-local program: the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development runs the state's farm marketing programs. Members can be listed for grocery, restaurant and school buyers looking for in-state product — ask about joining and any marketing directories.
- Established market: Eastern Market (Detroit). Visit on a market morning and talk to the produce dealers before you plant, not after harvest.
- Farmers markets, CSAs and on-farm stands: the USDA Local Food Directories list them by state, so you can see who already sells near you and which markets still need your crop.
- Schools and institutions: ask your state's farm-to-school contact (usually through the agriculture or education department) what they buy and when.
- Buyers on BAU: buyers post what they need on the marketplace, and you can list your crop window there for free.
Call before you count on any buyer: programs and market hours change, and a price talked through in winter is worth more than one found at harvest.
Farm taxes in Michigan
- Income tax: Flat state income tax; some cities add their own.
- Sales tax on inputs: Items used in agricultural production are exempt; give the vendor Form 3372 (Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption).
- Farmland property tax: Qualified agricultural property is exempt from the local school operating tax; PA 116 farmland agreements can add an income tax credit.
Rates and forms change. Confirm with the state revenue department or a farm tax preparer before you file — this is a plain-language guide, not tax advice. Our farm tax estimator covers the federal deductions every state shares.
Grants and cost-share in Michigan
- Specialty Crop Block Grant (MDARD)
- Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) technical help
- Value-added and regional food system grants (MDARD)
- USDA NRCS EQIP cost-share and FSA microloans through your county USDA service center
- North Central SARE farmer and rancher grants for on-farm trials
See the grant tracker for deadlines we follow.
Who to call
- Michigan State University Extension — county offices for soil tests, varieties and pest help
- Your county USDA service center (FSA and NRCS) for loans, cost-share and farm numbers