When to plant tomato in Detroit
Tomato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Detroit's last spring frost of Apr 15.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 18 – Apr 8
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 31 – Jun 21
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 30 – Aug 24
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Detroit's 194-day season leaves this much room.
Tomato on Detroit's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
APR 15
OCT 31
Common questions
When will tomato be ready to harvest in Detroit?
Expect to harvest from around late July (Jul 30–Aug 24) in Detroit, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Detroit?
Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 18–Apr 8) in Detroit, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When can I transplant tomato outdoors in Detroit?
Transplant outdoors around late May (May 31–Jun 21) in Detroit, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
How long is the growing season in Detroit?
Detroit has roughly 194 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow tomato to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow tomato 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Detroit's frost dates.
Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.