When to plant in Minnesota
Most of Minnesota sees its last spring frost between Apr 25 and May 16, and its first fall frost between Sep 26 and Oct 12. The middle of the state is around May 4 and October 4: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Minnesota: 3b (13%), 4a (21%), 4b (37%), 5a (28%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 30 | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 27 – Oct 4 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 16 | May 18 – Jun 1 | Aug 1 – Oct 4 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 12 – Aug 30 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 7 – Sep 15 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Aug 21 – Sep 25 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 12 – Aug 23 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 26 | Jul 15 – Jul 29 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Aug 1 – Aug 29 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | May 21 – Jul 2 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 2 – Jun 13 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Kale | Feb 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | May 31 – Aug 23 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Broccoli | Mar 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 12 – Jul 17 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Cabbage | Feb 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jun 15 – Jul 20 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 22 – Aug 3 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Beet | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 7 – Jul 19 | Aug 3 – Aug 17 |
| Radish | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Apr 24 – May 22 | Aug 26 – Sep 9 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Jul 8 – Aug 12 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 27 – Oct 18 (fall) | Jun 29 – Jul 20 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jul 12 – Aug 16 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 13 | May 25 – Jun 8 | Sep 2 – Sep 30 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 25 – Jun 8 | Aug 18 – Sep 22 | — |
| Basil | Apr 6 | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jun 17 – Sep 23 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 1 – Jun 29 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 18 – Jun 1 | Aug 6 – Sep 10 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Minnesota. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Minnesota
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 5a | Apr 29 | Oct 12 |
| Saint Paul | 5a | Apr 25 | Oct 12 |
| Duluth | 4b | May 14 | Oct 9 |
| Saint Cloud | 4b | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Maple Plain | 4b | Apr 29 | Oct 12 |
| Rochester | 4b | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| Eden Prairie | 5a | Apr 23 | Oct 14 |
| Grand Rapids | 4a | May 8 | Oct 1 |
| Mankato | 5a | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Moorhead | 4a | May 5 | Oct 3 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.