When to plant in St. Cloud, MN
USDA Zone 4bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for St. Cloud, Minnesota — all computed from St. Cloud's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 4b is cold — in St. Cloud, most perennials must be fully hardy, and your frost dates set a tight window for tender annual vegetables.
Frost probability
ST CLOUD RGNL 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 St. Cloud’s own odds, recorded at ST CLOUD RGNL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 1 | May 18 | May 4 | Sep 8 | Sep 22 | Oct 3 |
| 32°F | May 23 | May 7 | Apr 24 | Sep 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 28°F | May 11 | Apr 27 | Apr 12 | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
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 St. Cloud, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
St. Cloud planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in St. Cloud, MN?
On average, the last spring frost in St. Cloud is around May 7 (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 St. Cloud, MN?
In St. Cloud, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around September 30 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is St. Cloud in?
St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud?
There are roughly 146 frost-free days in St. Cloud (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 7 to the first fall frost near September 30.
When should I plant tomatoes in St. Cloud?
In St. Cloud, start tomato seeds indoors around March 12–March 26, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 14 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in St. Cloud
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to St. Cloud’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Sauk Rapids · 8 km
- Sartell · 11 km
- Big Lake · 39 km
- Monticello · 40 km
- Buffalo · 45 km
- Elk River · 52 km
- Otsego · 52 km
- St. Michael · 52 km
Frost dates recorded at ST CLOUD RGNL AP, 9 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 St. Cloud, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014926. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/st-cloud.