When to plant in St. Paul, MN
USDA Zone 5aSt. Paul, Minnesota frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 5a, St. Paul gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
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 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 St. Paul, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 6 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. Paul planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in St. Paul, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in St. Paul around April 24 (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 St. Paul, MN?
Expect St. Paul's first fall frost near October 16 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is St. Paul in?
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 St. Paul?
St. Paul has about 175 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 16).
When should I plant tomatoes in St. Paul?
For St. Paul, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in St. Paul
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to St. Paul’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- West St. Paul · 5 km
- Mendota Heights · 8 km
- Roseville · 8 km
- South St. Paul · 8 km
- Little Canada · 8 km
- Maplewood · 10 km
- North St. Paul · 11 km
- Oakdale · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at ST PAUL DOWNTOWN AP, 4 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. Paul, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014927. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/st-paul.