When to plant in West St. Paul, MN
USDA Zone 5aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in West St. Paul, Minnesota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 5a means West 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 West 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 West St. Paul, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 7 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.
West St. Paul planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in West St. Paul, MN?
On average, the last spring frost in West 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 West St. Paul, MN?
The first fall frost in West St. Paul typically arrives around October 16 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is West St. Paul in?
West 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 West St. Paul?
There are roughly 175 frost-free days in West 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 West St. Paul?
In West 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 West St. Paul
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to West St. Paul’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- South St. Paul · 4 km
- Mendota Heights · 5 km
- St. Paul · 5 km
- Inver Grove Heights · 8 km
- Eagan · 11 km
- Woodbury · 13 km
- Little Canada · 13 km
- Oakdale · 13 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 West 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/west-st-paul.