When to plant in Minneapolis, MN
USDA Zone 5aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Minneapolis, Minnesota — all computed from Minneapolis's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5a, Minneapolis gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
LOWER ST ANTHONY FALLS · 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 Minneapolis’s own odds, recorded at LOWER ST ANTHONY FALLS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Sep 23 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 23 | Apr 10 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 14 | Apr 2 | Oct 12 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
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 Minneapolis, 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.
Minneapolis planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Minneapolis, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Minneapolis around April 23 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Minneapolis, MN?
The first fall frost in Minneapolis typically arrives around October 16 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Minneapolis in?
Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis?
Minneapolis has about 176 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 23) and first fall frost (October 16).
When should I plant tomatoes in Minneapolis?
For Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Minneapolis’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Golden Valley · 8 km
- St. Louis Park · 8 km
- Robbinsdale · 8 km
- Columbia Heights · 10 km
- Richfield · 10 km
- Roseville · 11 km
- Edina · 11 km
- Crystal · 11 km
Frost dates recorded at LOWER ST ANTHONY FALLS, 2 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 Minneapolis, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00214884. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/minneapolis.