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When to plant in Fridley, MN

USDA Zone 5a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fridley, Minnesota — all computed from Fridley's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 5a, Fridley gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · MPLS CRYSTAL AP · 7.5 km
Last spring frost
April 30
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 8
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
161 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for FridleyA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Fridley: last spring frost around April 30, first fall frost around October 8, about 161 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

MPLS CRYSTAL AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Fridley’s own odds, recorded at MPLS CRYSTAL AP.

Frost-probability curves for FridleyProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 161 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 26May 9Apr 27Sep 18Sep 29Oct 11
32°FMay 17Apr 30Apr 17Sep 26Oct 8Oct 21
28°FMay 5Apr 20Apr 5Oct 4Oct 18Nov 1

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Broccoli
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Cabbage
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Carrot
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Cauliflower
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Napa Cabbage
July 16August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Beet
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Collards
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 11 days
Endive
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Escarole
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Fennel (Bulb)
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Kale
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 11 days
Kohlrabi
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 11 days
Peas
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Radicchio
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Swiss Chard
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Turnip
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Arugula
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Bok Choy
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Chervil
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Cilantro
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce)
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Corn Salad (Mâche)
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Lettuce
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Mizuna
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Mustard Greens
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Radish
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum)
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Spinach
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Tatsoi
August 13September 10

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Fridley, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 12 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

MPLS CRYSTAL AP
Primary
8 km · 262 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 8
LOWER ST ANTHONY FALLS
12 km · 230 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 23
FALL
Oct 16
U OF MN ST PAUL
12 km · 296 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 28
FALL
Oct 8

Fridley planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Fridley, MN?

Fridley's average last spring frost falls near April 30 — 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 Fridley, MN?

In Fridley, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 8 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Fridley in?

Fridley is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.

How long is the growing season in Fridley?

Fridley has about 161 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 8).

When should I plant tomatoes in Fridley?

For Fridley, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Fridley

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fridley’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at MPLS CRYSTAL AP, 8 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Fridley, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094960. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/fridley.
When to Plant in Fridley, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a — BlissGarden