What to plant this week in Detroit, MI
With the last frost in Detroit likely holding until mid-April and overnight temps still dipping near zero, this week is strictly for harvesting your established summer crops like tomatoes and peppers. Focus on picking beefsteak, Roma, and jalapeño varieties while keeping your soil warm to protect late-planted beans and squash from lingering chill.
The next 7 days
Detroit, MIGrowing in Detroit right now
- Detroit's clay-heavy soils drain slowly; add compost or raised beds immediately around root vegetables like carrots and potatoes to prevent rot during wet spring spells common in the metro area.
- Wind speeds often exceed 20 mph across the Detroit Riverfront and river valleys, so stake tall plants like pole beans, sunflowers, and zinnias now before a storm knocks them over.
- The region's high humidity fosters powdery mildew on cucurbits; water your yellow summer squash and zucchini early in the morning to allow leaves to dry quickly. Avoid overhead watering at dusk.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
58 crops- Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Honeydew Melon
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Marconi Pepper
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Serrano Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer.
- Mulch around young tomato and pepper plants to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise above 80°F.
- Thin carrot and beet seedlings now to prevent overcrowding and ensure sturdy root development.
Pest & disease watch
- Late-season aphids and spider mites are thriving on bean plants (pole, bush, and scarlet runner) as temperatures hover around 60°F during the day.
- Slugs remain active late into the evening in low-lying areas near Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, targeting young lettuce and brassica seedlings if you planted any earlier this month.
- Cucumber beetles are still migrating northward; inspect your cucumbers, melons, and squash daily to remove any infested leaves immediately.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to encourage deep root growth and reduce evaporation losses during this hot season.
Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are milky and firm, not yet hard or fully browned, for peak sweetness.
Detroit gardening questions
3Can I plant my fall garlic now in Detroit?
No, garlic requires a long winter chill period that won't occur until the ground freezes later this month. Wait until mid-August to plant cloves for a proper fall harvest before the first frost on October 24.
My tomatoes are turning green again after a sunny week; should I cover them?
Avoid plastic covers which can cause sunburn and overheating; instead, place shade cloth over your tomato plants if daytime highs suddenly spike above 90°F. This protects the fruit from cracking under rapid temperature fluctuations.
When is the best time to pull my potatoes in this zone?
Harvest immediately once you see potato vines begin to yellow and die back, which can happen anytime after a heavy rain or early frost. Wait too long in Detroit's wet clay soil, and your tubers may rot before you can dig them up.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Detroit garden in SproutGuide →