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Last and first frost dates in Lansing

United States

In Lansing the last spring frost usually comes around 28 April and the first autumn frost around 2 November, which leaves about 188 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 16 May to 13 July.

Last spring frostaround 28 April
First autumn frostaround 2 November
Frost-free days188 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Lansing?

The last frost in Lansing usually comes around 28 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 7 April, while corn waits until 5 May. The first autumn frost follows around 2 November, about 188 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha5 March – 25 July14 April – 3 September5 May – 3 September
Ageratumfrom 28 February—from 16 May
Arugula——sow 7 April – 28 September
Basil30 March – 31 August7 May – 8 October28 May – 8 October
Beet——sow 7 April – 3 September
Bell Pepper8 March – 14 May7 May – 13 July28 May – 13 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 11 February—from 5 May
Bok Choy10 March – 11 September14 April – 16 October5 May – 16 October
Borage——sow 5 May – 8 September
Broad bean——sow 7 April – 25 July
Broccoli——sow 7 April – 18 July
Brussels Sprouts31 January – 15 June17 March – 30 July7 April – 30 July
Busy Lizziefrom 10 February—from 5 May
Cabbage——sow 7 April – 25 June
Calendula——sow from 7 April
Carrot——sow 7 April – 10 August
Cauliflower3 February – 18 July17 March – 29 August7 April – 29 August
Celeriac27 January – 15 May14 April – 31 July5 May – 31 July
Celery27 January – 25 May14 April – 10 August5 May – 10 August
Celosiafrom 12 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Chamomile——sow 7 April – 29 August
Chayote16 January – 8 May14 April – 4 August5 May – 4 August
Chickpea——sow 7 April – 15 July
Chicory20 February – 9 August—7 April – 3 September
Chili Pepper8 March – 20 June7 May – 19 August28 May – 19 August
China asterfrom 16 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Chives——sow 7 April – 20 August
Cilantro——sow 7 April – 30 August
Corn——sow 5 May – 15 July
Corn poppy——sow from 7 April
Cosmosfrom 12 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Cucumber9 April – 21 July7 May – 18 August28 May – 18 August
Daikon——sow 7 April – 27 August
Delphiniumfrom 17 January—from 7 April
Dill——sow 7 April – 9 September
Edging lobeliafrom 10 February—from 5 May
Eggplant8 March – 14 May7 May – 13 July28 May – 13 July
Florence fennel28 February – 25 July14 April – 8 September5 May – 8 September
Foxglovefrom 30 December—from 7 April
Garden sorrel——sow 7 April – 28 August
Green Beans——sow 17 May – 23 July
Hollyhock——sow from 7 April
Hyssop——sow 7 April – 21 July
Kale——sow 7 April – 22 August
Kiwano24 March – 28 July25 April – 29 August16 May – 29 August
Kohlrabi——sow 7 April – 1 September
Leek6 January – 6 May17 March – 15 July7 April – 15 July
Lemon balm——sow 7 April – 24 August
Lettuce——sow 7 April – 6 September
Lisianthusfrom 20 Decemberfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Lovage——sow from 7 April
Luffa26 March – 22 May7 May – 3 July28 May – 3 July
Marigoldfrom 3 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Marjoram8 March – 9 August—28 May – 8 October
Melon9 April – 8 July7 May – 5 August28 May – 5 August
Microgreens——sow 17 May – 19 October
Moringa15 March – 14 August9 May – 8 October30 May – 8 October
Moss rosefrom 17 February—from 5 May
Mustard greens——sow 7 April – 18 September
Napa cabbage12 March – 19 August14 April – 21 September5 May – 21 September
Nasturtiumfrom 7 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Okra26 March – 2 August7 May – 13 September28 May – 13 September
Oregano16 January – 30 July17 March – 28 September7 April – 28 September
Pansyfrom 20 Januaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Parsley——sow 7 April – 18 August
Parsnip——sow 7 April – 7 July
Peanut31 March – 28 June7 May – 4 August28 May – 4 August
Peas——sow 7 April – 20 August
Petuniafrom 5 Marchfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Physalis11 March – 25 June25 April – 9 August16 May – 9 August
Pumpkin26 March – 27 May7 May – 8 July28 May – 8 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 14 January—from 7 April
Radish——sow 7 April – 3 October
Sage27 January – 26 July17 March – 13 September7 April – 13 September
Scarlet sagefrom 4 March—from 16 May
Snapdragonfrom 11 Januaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Soybean——sow 28 May – 14 August
Spinach——sow 7 April – 8 September
Stevia7 March – 16 June25 April – 4 August16 May – 4 August
Stock——sow from 7 April
Sunflower——sow from 17 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 7 April
Sweet Corn23 March – 9 August14 April – 31 August5 May – 31 August
Sweet peafrom 3 Februaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Sweet William——sow from 7 April
Swiss Chard——sow 7 April – 3 September
Thyme——sow 7 April – 15 July
Tomato4 March – 22 May25 April – 13 July16 May – 13 July
Turnip——sow 7 April – 5 September
Watercress——sow 7 April – 16 September
Watermelon9 April – 26 June7 May – 24 July28 May – 24 July
Zinniafrom 4 Aprilfrom 9 Mayfrom 30 May
Zucchini16 April – 26 July7 May – 16 August28 May – 16 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Lansing

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 6 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 18 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C15 March44 days earlier
10 °C22 April6 days earlier
15 °C16 May18 days later
18 °C28 May30 days later

Frost dates near Lansing

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Toledo (United States) (22 April) and latest in Grand Rapids (28 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Ann Arbor82 km28 April5 November
Grand Rapids95 km28 April3 November
Detroit131 km24 April7 November
Windsor134 km24 April7 November
Toledo (United States)145 km22 April7 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Lansing

Within 15 km of Lansing OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 6 markets and 5 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Lansing Gardens, 4 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Lansing

Frosts in Lansing usually come from about 2 November to about 28 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Lansing by month

Average weather in Lansing over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (20.9–28.3 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in December–March (-7.1–-1.6 °C). About 920 mm of rain falls in a year, on 131 days; October is the wettest month (102 mm) and November the driest (56 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January0.2-7.16311
February2.8-6.4619
March8.6-1.68011
April143.18513
May20.99.78913
June26.615.57811
July28.3188612
August27.2178310
September23.8147410
October16.67.910211
November8.51569
December2.9-3.76311

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 3 October
Crocus3 October – 29 November
Daffodil3 October – 29 November
Garlic3 October – 29 November
Grape hyacinthby 3 October
Helleboreby 3 October
Hyacinth3 October – 29 November
Lilyby 3 October
Ornamental onionby 3 October
Peonyby 3 October
Saffronby 3 October
Snowdropby 3 October
Tulip3 October – 29 November
Wild garlicby 3 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).