When to plant in Bemidji, MN
USDA Zone 3bBemidji, Minnesota frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Bemidji's nearest full-normals station sits about 23 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. In zone 3b, Bemidji winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
The average last spring frost in Bemidji is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CASS LAKE · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bemidji’s own odds, recorded at CASS LAKE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 9 | May 28 | May 15 | Sep 1 | Sep 17 | Sep 29 |
| 32°F | May 30 | May 17 | May 3 | Sep 12 | Sep 26 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F | May 20 | May 7 | Apr 25 | Sep 22 | Oct 6 | Oct 23 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bemidji, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 37 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Bemidji planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bemidji, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Bemidji around May 17 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Bemidji, MN?
The first fall frost in Bemidji typically arrives around September 26 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Bemidji in?
Bemidji is in USDA hardiness zone 3b. In zone 3b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Bemidji?
Bemidji has about 132 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (September 26).
When should I plant tomatoes in Bemidji?
For Bemidji, sow tomatoes indoors about March 22–April 5 and move the seedlings out around May 24, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Bemidji
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bemidji’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Detroit Lakes · 105 km
- Grand Rapids · 105 km
- Brainerd · 136 km
- Hibbing · 146 km
- Moorhead · 157 km
- Fergus Falls · 162 km
- Fargo · 163 km
- West Fargo · 168 km
Frost dates recorded at CASS LAKE, 23 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bemidji, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 3b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00211374. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/bemidji.