When to plant in Minnetonka, MN
USDA Zone 5aMinnetonka, Minnesota frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5a means Minnetonka sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Minnetonka 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 Minnetonka’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 Minnetonka, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 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.
Minnetonka planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Minnetonka, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Minnetonka around April 29 (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 Minnetonka, MN?
In Minnetonka, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 12 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Minnetonka in?
Minnetonka 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 Minnetonka?
There are roughly 166 frost-free days in Minnetonka (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 29 to the first fall frost near October 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Minnetonka?
In Minnetonka, start tomato seeds indoors around March 4–March 18, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 6 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Minnetonka
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Minnetonka’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hopkins · 4 km
- St. Louis Park · 7 km
- Edina · 9 km
- Eden Prairie · 9 km
- Plymouth · 10 km
- Golden Valley · 10 km
- Chanhassen · 12 km
- New Hope · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at NEW HOPE, 11 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 Minnetonka, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00215838. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/minnetonka.