When to plant in Otsego, MN
USDA Zone 4bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Otsego, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 4b, Otsego winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
Frost probability
ELK RVR · 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 Otsego’s own odds, recorded at ELK RVR.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 28 | May 13 | May 1 | Sep 16 | Sep 28 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F | May 18 | May 4 | Apr 22 | Sep 23 | Oct 5 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | May 9 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Oct 29 |
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 Otsego, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 26 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.
Otsego planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Otsego, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Otsego around May 4 (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 Otsego, MN?
The first fall frost in Otsego typically arrives around October 5 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Otsego in?
Otsego 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 Otsego?
Otsego has about 154 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (October 5).
When should I plant tomatoes in Otsego?
For Otsego, sow tomatoes indoors about March 9–March 23 and move the seedlings out around May 11, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Otsego
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Otsego’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Elk River · 9 km
- St. Michael · 9 km
- Rogers · 10 km
- Big Lake · 13 km
- Ramsey · 13 km
- Monticello · 13 km
- Anoka · 19 km
- Maple Grove · 21 km
Frost dates recorded at ELK RVR, 5 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 Otsego, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00212500. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/otsego.