Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 48238 (Detroit, MI)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Dearborn #2, MI (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)181 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 48238, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 48238 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 25: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 11 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 6 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 27 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 15 | Nov 6 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 48238
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 25). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 2–16 | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 16–Mar 2 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 16–Mar 2 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 2–16 | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 2–16 | Apr 6–27 (transplant) Mar 30–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 27 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 16–30 | Apr 13–May 4 (transplant) Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 23–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 2–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 18–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 30–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 30–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 30–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 30–Apr 6 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 30–Apr 6 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 2–16 | May 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 16–30 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 16–Mar 2 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Dearborn #2, MI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00202016), elevation 605 ft, 3.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit City AP, MI | 7 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
| Dearborn, MI | 7 mi | May 1 | Oct 15 |
| Farmington, MI | 12 mi | May 1 | Oct 17 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 48238
When is the last frost in 48238?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 48238 is April 27. For a more cautious planting date, use May 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 48238?
The average first fall freeze is October 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 10.
What hardiness zone is 48238?
ZIP 48238 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 48238 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
48204 Detroit 48221 Detroit 48206 Detroit 48203 Detroit 48227 Detroit 48235 Detroit 48202 Detroit 48208 Detroit
Other ZIP codes in Wayne County
48101 48111 48120 48122 48124 48125 48126 48127 48128 48134 48135 48138 48141 48146 48150 48152 48154 48164 48168 48170 48173 48174 48180 48183 All Wayne County frost dates · Michigan frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.