When to plant in Grand Rapids, MN
USDA Zone 4aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Grand Rapids, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 4a, Grand Rapids winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
Frost probability
GRAND RPDS FOREST LAB · 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 Grand Rapids’s own odds, recorded at GRAND RPDS FOREST LAB.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 13 | May 29 | May 16 | Aug 30 | Sep 15 | Sep 27 |
| 32°F | May 31 | May 17 | May 3 | Sep 10 | Sep 24 | Oct 7 |
| 28°F | May 19 | May 6 | Apr 24 | Sep 20 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
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 Grand Rapids, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 45 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.
Grand Rapids planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Grand Rapids, MN?
On average, the last spring frost in Grand Rapids is around May 17 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Grand Rapids, MN?
Expect Grand Rapids's first fall frost near September 24 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Grand Rapids in?
Grand Rapids is in USDA hardiness zone 4a. In zone 4a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids has about 130 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (September 24).
When should I plant tomatoes in Grand Rapids?
For Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Grand Rapids’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hibbing · 48 km
- Cloquet · 97 km
- Bemidji · 105 km
- Hermantown · 109 km
- Brainerd · 111 km
- Duluth · 118 km
- Superior · 126 km
- Detroit Lakes · 182 km
Frost dates recorded at GRAND RPDS FOREST LAB, 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 Grand Rapids, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00213303. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/grand-rapids.