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When to plant in Hutchinson, MN

USDA Zone 4b

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

In zone 4b, Hutchinson winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.

Station · HUTCHINSON 1 N · 2.7 km
Last spring frost
April 28
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 8
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
163 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for HutchinsonA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Hutchinson: last spring frost around April 28, first fall frost around October 8, about 163 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in Hutchinson is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

HUTCHINSON 1 N · 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 Hutchinson’s own odds, recorded at HUTCHINSON 1 N.

Frost-probability curves for HutchinsonProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 163 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 21May 6Apr 24Sep 16Sep 30Oct 12
32°FMay 10Apr 28Apr 15Sep 25Oct 8Oct 23
28°FMay 2Apr 18Apr 5Oct 3Oct 19Nov 2

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 Hutchinson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 19 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.

HUTCHINSON 1 N
Primary
3 km · 334 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 28
FALL
Oct 8
BROWNTON WWTP
17 km · 317 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 4
DASSEL 3SE
19 km · 325 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 10

Hutchinson planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Hutchinson, MN?

Hutchinson's average last spring frost falls near April 28 — 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 Hutchinson, MN?

The first fall frost in Hutchinson typically arrives around October 8 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Hutchinson in?

Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson?

Hutchinson has about 163 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 28) and first fall frost (October 8).

When should I plant tomatoes in Hutchinson?

For Hutchinson, sow tomatoes indoors about March 3–March 17 and move the seedlings out around May 5, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Hutchinson

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at HUTCHINSON 1 N, 3 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 Hutchinson, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00213962. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/hutchinson.
When to Plant in Hutchinson, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b — BlissGarden