When to plant in Forest Lake, MN
USDA Zone 4bForest Lake, Minnesota frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 4b, Forest Lake winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
Frost probability
FOREST LAKE 5NE · 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 Forest Lake’s own odds, recorded at FOREST LAKE 5NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 27 | May 14 | Apr 30 | Sep 15 | Sep 28 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | May 19 | May 3 | Apr 20 | Sep 22 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | May 6 | Apr 24 | Apr 10 | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 |
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 Forest Lake, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 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.
Forest Lake planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Forest Lake, MN?
Forest Lake's average last spring frost falls near May 3 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Forest Lake, MN?
In Forest Lake, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 5 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Forest Lake in?
Forest Lake is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. In zone 4b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Forest Lake?
Forest Lake has about 155 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (October 5).
When should I plant tomatoes in Forest Lake?
For Forest Lake, sow tomatoes indoors about March 8–March 22 and move the seedlings out around May 10, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Forest Lake
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Forest Lake’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hugo · 10 km
- Lino Lakes · 15 km
- Ham Lake · 18 km
- Blaine · 21 km
- White Bear Lake · 21 km
- East Bethel · 23 km
- Vadnais Heights · 23 km
- Shoreview · 23 km
Frost dates recorded at FOREST LAKE 5NE, 10 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 Forest Lake, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00212881. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/forest-lake.