When to Pick Tomatoes in Michigan, and Ripening the Rest
Pick every tomato left on the vine, ripe or green, before the first fall frost hits.
Gardening in Michigan
Everything we have worked out for Michigan: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Detroit, the last spring freeze runs April 30 in the Detroit area; early to mid May across most of the Lower Peninsula and the first fall freeze runs October 6 to October 21, USDA zones 4a-6b, 3,248 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Michigan: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Harvest Garlic in Michigan, and How to Cure It
Garlic in Michigan usually comes out of the ground in mid to late July, sometimes stretching into the first days of August in a cool, wet season.
When to Pick Apples in Michigan, and How Long They Keep
How to tell a Michigan apple is ripe by seed color and background hue, and which varieties keep through winter versus need eating fast.
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Michigan Cool?
Yes, insulation helps against Michigan summer heat, but the state’s short, sharp hot season means the bigger payoff usually shows up on the winter side…
Does a Wall in Michigan Need a Vapor Barrier?
Yes. Under Section R702.7 of the 2021 International Residential Code, above-grade frame walls in Michigan need an interior vapor retarder, and that…
Heating With Pellets in Michigan: What a Winter Takes
A pellet stove in Michigan works for its keep. Between the first cool nights of September and the last chilly mornings of May, the state’s furnaces and…
Trees, Shrubs and Perennials for Michigan: What Will Not Survive
Michigan’s USDA hardiness range runs from 4a to 6b, a spread wide enough that a plant thriving in the Detroit suburbs can freeze solid up near Marquette.
How Much Insulation Does a Home in Michigan Need?
Michigan doesn’t have one insulation number. The state sits across three separate IECC climate zones, so the right R-value for an attic, floor, or rim…
When Can You Turn the Heat Off in Michigan?
Michigan’s quietest month is September, when heating and cooling demand together add up to about 181 degree days, a moderate figure by national…
Will Sweet Corn Ripen in Michigan?
Yes, in most of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, sweet corn ripens reliably when planted after soil reaches 60°F rather than right after the last frost.