When to plant in Golden Valley, MN
USDA Zone 5aGolden Valley, 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 5a, Golden Valley gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Golden Valley is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
NEW HOPE · 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 Golden Valley’s own odds, recorded at NEW HOPE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 8 | Apr 26 | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 29 | Apr 15 | Sep 29 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | May 1 | Apr 19 | Apr 5 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
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 Golden Valley, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 9 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.
Golden Valley planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Golden Valley, MN?
Golden Valley's average last spring frost falls near April 29 — 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 Golden Valley, MN?
Expect Golden Valley's first fall frost near October 12 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Golden Valley in?
Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley?
Golden Valley has about 166 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 29) and first fall frost (October 12).
When should I plant tomatoes in Golden Valley?
For Golden Valley, sow tomatoes indoors about March 4–March 18 and move the seedlings out around May 6, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Golden Valley
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Golden Valley’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Robbinsdale · 4 km
- St. Louis Park · 5 km
- Crystal · 5 km
- New Hope · 6 km
- Minneapolis · 8 km
- Hopkins · 8 km
- Plymouth · 9 km
- Brooklyn Center · 9 km
Frost dates recorded at NEW HOPE, 3 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 Golden Valley, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00215838. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/golden-valley.