When to plant in South St. Paul, MN
USDA Zone 5aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in South St. Paul, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 5a means South St. Paul sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
ST PAUL DOWNTOWN 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 South St. Paul’s own odds, recorded at ST PAUL DOWNTOWN AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Sep 23 | Oct 5 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F | May 10 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Apr 1 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 | Nov 8 |
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 South St. Paul, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
South St. Paul planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in South St. Paul, MN?
On average, the last spring frost in South St. Paul is around April 24 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in South St. Paul, MN?
In South St. Paul, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 16 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is South St. Paul in?
South St. Paul 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 South St. Paul?
There are roughly 175 frost-free days in South St. Paul (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in South St. Paul?
In South St. Paul, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in South St. Paul
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to South St. Paul’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- West St. Paul · 4 km
- Inver Grove Heights · 7 km
- Mendota Heights · 7 km
- St. Paul · 8 km
- Woodbury · 9 km
- Eagan · 13 km
- Oakdale · 13 km
- Cottage Grove · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at ST PAUL DOWNTOWN AP, 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 South St. Paul, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014927. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/south-st-paul.