When to plant in Rochester, MN
USDA Zone 4bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Rochester, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 4b, Rochester winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
Frost probability
ROCHESTER INTL AP · 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 Rochester’s own odds, recorded at ROCHESTER INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 9 | Apr 28 | Sep 14 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | May 13 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Sep 22 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 18 | Apr 4 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 |
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 Rochester, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Rochester planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Rochester, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Rochester 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 Rochester, MN?
In Rochester, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 6 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Rochester in?
Rochester 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 Rochester?
Rochester has about 159 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 6).
When should I plant tomatoes in Rochester?
For Rochester, 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 Rochester
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Rochester’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Austin · 55 km
- Owatonna · 61 km
- Red Wing · 64 km
- Winona · 65 km
- Faribault · 71 km
- Northfield · 74 km
- Albert Lea · 82 km
- Hastings · 85 km
Frost dates recorded at ROCHESTER INTL AP, 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 Rochester, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014925. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/rochester.