When to plant in Worthington, MN
USDA Zone 5aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Worthington, Minnesota — all computed from Worthington's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5a means Worthington sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
WORTHINGTON 2 NNE · 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 Worthington’s own odds, recorded at WORTHINGTON 2 NNE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 25 | May 12 | Apr 30 | Sep 12 | Sep 25 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F | May 15 | May 3 | Apr 19 | Sep 21 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | May 6 | Apr 23 | Apr 8 | Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 29 |
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 Worthington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 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.
Worthington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Worthington, MN?
On average, the last spring frost in Worthington is around May 3 (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 Worthington, MN?
Expect Worthington's first fall frost near October 4 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Worthington in?
Worthington 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 Worthington?
There are roughly 154 frost-free days in Worthington (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 3 to the first fall frost near October 4.
When should I plant tomatoes in Worthington?
In Worthington, start tomato seeds indoors around March 8–March 22, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 10 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Worthington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Worthington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Spencer · 65 km
- Brandon · 79 km
- Fairmont · 91 km
- Sioux Falls · 92 km
- Marshall · 92 km
- Le Mars · 105 km
- Storm Lake · 114 km
- New Ulm · 118 km
Frost dates recorded at WORTHINGTON 2 NNE, 2 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 Worthington, MN — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00219170. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/minnesota/worthington.