When to plant in Winona, MN
USDA Zone 5aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Winona, Minnesota — all computed from Winona's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5a, Winona gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Winona is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WINONA · 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 Winona’s own odds, recorded at WINONA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | May 2 | Apr 17 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | May 4 | Apr 21 | Apr 7 | Oct 4 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Mar 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 |
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 Winona, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 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.
Winona planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Winona, MN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Winona around April 21 (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 Winona, MN?
Expect Winona's first fall frost near October 19 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Winona in?
Winona 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 Winona?
Winona has about 181 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 21) and first fall frost (October 19).
When should I plant tomatoes in Winona?
For Winona, sow tomatoes indoors about February 24–March 10 and move the seedlings out around April 28, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Winona
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Winona’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Holmen · 33 km
- Onalaska · 41 km
- La Crosse · 44 km
- Rochester · 65 km
- Eau Claire · 86 km
- Red Wing · 95 km
- Menomonie · 95 km
- Chippewa Falls · 101 km
Frost dates recorded at WINONA, 3 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 Winona, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00219067. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/winona.