When to plant in Oakdale, MN
USDA Zone 5aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Oakdale, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5a, Oakdale gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Oakdale is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ST PAUL · 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 Oakdale’s own odds, recorded at ST PAUL.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 7 | Apr 23 | Sep 20 | Oct 3 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | May 11 | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Sep 27 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Apr 2 | Oct 7 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
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 Oakdale, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 11 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.
Oakdale planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Oakdale, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Oakdale around April 26 (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 Oakdale, MN?
In Oakdale, 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 Oakdale in?
Oakdale 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 Oakdale?
Oakdale has about 169 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 12).
When should I plant tomatoes in Oakdale?
For Oakdale, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Oakdale
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Oakdale’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- North St. Paul · 4 km
- Lake Elmo · 4 km
- Maplewood · 6 km
- White Bear Lake · 9 km
- Woodbury · 10 km
- Little Canada · 10 km
- Vadnais Heights · 11 km
- St. Paul · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at ST PAUL, 7 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 Oakdale, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00217377. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/oakdale.