When to plant lavender in Grand Rapids, Michigan

May 6 – May 20

Transplant outdoors · typical Grand Rapids year

Climate basis: NOAA station E Grand Rapids, MI (USC00202375), 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Grand Rapids (ZCTA 49503 centroid), elevation 746 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant lavender outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (May 6). One year in ten still freezes after May 23.

Last spring freezeMay 61-in-10 after May 23
First fall freezeOctober 101-in-10 before Sep 29
Frost-free season157 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 27Oct 23kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6a-10 to -5°F winter low not frost timing

The Grand Rapids year

Transplant outdoorsMay 6 – May 20
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 23
Lavender in Grand Rapids · freeze context from E Grand Rapids, MI, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

May 6 – May 20

Utah State University Extension instructs transplanting after the last spring frost, a point rule encoded per policy as a 14-day span opening at the last-frost date; no reconciliation was needed because this is the entry's only source. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 6). Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Utah State University Extension advises against direct seeding, stating that the germination rate is low and that seeding to transplanting takes between 100 and 200 days.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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