Will Parsnips Sweeten in Michigan?
Yes, parsnips sweeten reliably in Michigan. The state’s winters bring long stretches of freezing temperatures, exactly the kind of frost exposure that…
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.
Growing Spinach in Michigan: When Will It Bolt?
Spinach sown in Michigan in spring typically bolts by early-to-mid June, once day length near the solstice combines with the season’s first real heat.
Growing Pumpkins in Michigan: Will They Ripen in Time?
Michigan’s frost calendar splits the growing season unevenly across the state, and that split decides whether a pumpkin patch has enough runway.
When to Sow Carrots in Michigan: Counting Back From the Last Frost
Carrots go into the ground as seed, never as transplants, about two to three weeks before your last spring frost date because the seed germinates fine in…
Will Carrots Fork in Michigan Soil?
Michigan’s official state soil, the Kalkaska series, is sandy and loose enough that a carrot growing in it would have little reason to fork.
When to Sow Beets in Michigan
Sow beet seed directly into the ground two to three weeks before your area’s last spring frost date.
Beet Soil in Michigan: What the Root Will Meet
Michigan’s official state soil, the Kalkaska series, is sandy and drains fast, which lines up with what beets look for in a garden bed.
Growing Parsnips in Michigan: Will They Sweeten?
Yes, parsnips grown in Michigan will sweeten, and the reason has nothing to do with the state’s hardiness zone rating.
Why Peppers Fail to Set Fruit in Michigan
Michigan peppers stall out for one of two reasons: a stretch of nights too cool for pollen to work, or a run of days so hot the blossoms drop before they…
When to Start Pepper Seed in Michigan
Start pepper seed indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to transplant. In the Detroit area, where the last spring frost lands around April 30, that…