When to Plant Peppers in Michigan
In Michigan, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from May 3 – May 17 in Port Huron to May 22 – Jun 5 in Burton. In Detroit, it's May 11 – May 25. The average last spring frost differs by about 3 weeks across the state (Apr 19 in Port Huron, May 8 in Burton), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Michigan by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | 6a | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | May 19 – Jun 2 |
| Battle Creek | 6a | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Bay City | 6a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Burton | 6a | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 22 – Jun 5 |
| Dearborn | 6b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Dearborn Heights | 6b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Detroit | 6b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| East Lansing | 6a | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Eastpointe | 6b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Farmington Hills | 6a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Flint | 6a | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Grand Rapids | 6a | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Holland | 6b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Jackson | 6a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Kalamazoo | 6a | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Kentwood | 6a | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Lansing | 6a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Lincoln Park | 6b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Livonia | 6b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Madison Heights | 6b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Midland | 6a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Muskegon | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Novi | 6a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Oak Park | 6b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Pontiac | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Port Huron | 6b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Portage | 6a | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Rochester Hills | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Roseville | 6b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Royal Oak | 6b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Saginaw | 6a | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Southfield | 6b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Southgate | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| St. Clair Shores | 6b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Sterling Heights | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Taylor | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Troy | 6b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Warren | 6b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Westland | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Wyoming | 6a | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Michigan, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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