When to plant in Monticello, MN
USDA Zone 4bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Monticello, Minnesota — all computed from Monticello's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 4b, Monticello winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
The average first fall frost in Monticello is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BUFFALO 2NE · 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 Monticello’s own odds, recorded at BUFFALO 2NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 9 | Apr 28 | Sep 18 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 13 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Sep 25 | Oct 9 | Oct 23 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 19 | Apr 5 | Oct 5 | Oct 21 | Nov 3 |
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 Monticello, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Monticello planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Monticello, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Monticello around April 30 (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 Monticello, MN?
Expect Monticello's first fall frost near October 9 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Monticello in?
Monticello 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 Monticello?
Monticello has about 162 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Monticello?
For Monticello, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Monticello
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Monticello’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at BUFFALO 2NE, 12 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 Monticello, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00211107. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/monticello.