When to plant in Hastings, MN
USDA Zone 5aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Hastings, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5a, Hastings gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
HASTINGS DAM 2 · 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 Hastings’s own odds, recorded at HASTINGS DAM 2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 4 | Apr 19 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 23 | Apr 8 | Oct 5 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 11 | Apr 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
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 Hastings, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 23 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.
Hastings planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hastings, MN?
On average, the last spring frost in Hastings is around April 23 (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 Hastings, MN?
Expect Hastings's first fall frost near October 19 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Hastings in?
Hastings 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 Hastings?
Hastings has about 179 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 23) and first fall frost (October 19).
When should I plant tomatoes in Hastings?
For Hastings, sow tomatoes indoors about February 26–March 12 and move the seedlings out around April 30, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Hastings
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hastings’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cottage Grove · 10 km
- Rosemount · 17 km
- Inver Grove Heights · 19 km
- Woodbury · 20 km
- South St. Paul · 23 km
- River Falls · 23 km
- Red Wing · 26 km
- Eagan · 26 km
Frost dates recorded at HASTINGS DAM 2, 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 Hastings, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00213567. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/hastings.