When to Plant in Minneapolis, MN: Planting Calendar & Frost Dates
Quick answer
In Minneapolis (ZIP 55401), the median last spring frost is Apr 23 and the first fall frost is Oct 16. Start tomato seeds indoors Feb 26 – Mar 12 and transplant them Apr 30 – May 7; sow peas Mar 12 – Mar 26; plant garlic Oct 2 – Nov 6.
For ZIP 55401 in Minneapolis, the nearest NOAA weather station with freeze records is Lower St. Anthony Falls (NOAA name: Lower St Anthony Falls, MN), 1.2 miles away. Its median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) is Apr 23 and its median first fall frost is Oct 16, leaving about 176 frost-free days. ZIP 55401 is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last frost here comes 10 days earlier than the zone 5 median (May 3), and the season is 19 days longer than the zone’s typical 157 days. Across Minnesota’s 881 ZIP codes with frost dates, the median last frost is May 4, so Minneapolis’s comes 11 days earlier than that.
Station and dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F at 50% probability, for the station nearest the center of ZIP 55401. Zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM data by ZIP code). Outside Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia the planner uses the nearest NOAA station with freeze data, which can be at a different elevation from your yard.
Next 30 days in Minneapolis
See what to plant this month in the planner for ZIP 55401.
Key planting dates for Minneapolis
| Key date | When in Minneapolis | How it is counted |
|---|---|---|
| Sow peas | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | 4–6 weeks before last frost (Apr 23) |
| Start tomatoes indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | 6–8 weeks before last frost (Apr 23) |
| Transplant tomatoes | Apr 30 – May 7 | 1–2 weeks after last frost (Apr 23) |
| Sow beans and squash | Apr 30 – May 7 | 1–2 weeks after last frost (Apr 23) |
| Sow fall lettuce | Aug 21 – Sep 4 | 6–8 weeks before first fall frost (Oct 16) |
| Plant garlic | Oct 2 – Nov 6 | 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) (Oct 16) |
| Plant tulip bulbs | Oct 2 – Nov 13 | 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) (Oct 16) |
Minneapolis vegetable and flower planting calendar
Every date range below is counted from Minneapolis’s median frost dates (Apr 23 and Oct 16) with the same rules as our planner, and rows run in calendar order. In about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date.
| Plant | Task | Dates (and how they are counted) | Expected harvest (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Start indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 268–10 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 268–10 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Kale | Start indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 268–10 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Tomatoes | Start indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 126–8 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Peppers | Start indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 126–8 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 126–8 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Peas | Direct sow | Mar 12 – Mar 264–6 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | May 11 – Jun 1460–80 days from seeding |
| Spinach | Direct sow | Mar 12 – Mar 264–6 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Apr 26 – May 2545–60 days from seeding |
| Basil | Start indoors | Mar 12 – Mar 264–6 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Radishes | Direct sow | Mar 19 – Apr 92–5 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Apr 8 – May 920–30 days from seeding |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | Mar 26 – Apr 92–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | May 25 – Jun 2860–80 days from seeding |
| Onions (sets/transplants) | Plant sets/transplants | Mar 26 – Apr 92–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jun 19 – Aug 785–120 days from planting |
| Broccoli | Transplant | Mar 26 – Apr 92–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | May 15 – Jun 1850–70 days from transplanting |
| Cabbage | Transplant | Mar 26 – Apr 92–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jun 4 – Jul 870–90 days from transplanting |
| Kale | Transplant | Mar 26 – Apr 92–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Marigolds | Start indoors | Apr 2 – Apr 230–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Zinnias | Start indoors | Apr 2 – Apr 230–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Potatoes | Plant seed potatoes | Apr 9 – Apr 161–2 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jul 3 – Aug 485–110 days from planting |
| Marigolds | Direct sow / transplant | Apr 23 – May 7from the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Zinnias | Direct sow / transplant | Apr 23 – May 7from the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 23) | — |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | Apr 30 – May 71–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jul 9 – Aug 570–90 days from transplanting |
| Beans (bush & pole) | Direct sow | Apr 30 – May 71–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jun 14 – Jul 1645–70 days from seeding |
| Sweet corn | Direct sow | Apr 30 – May 71–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jul 4 – Aug 565–90 days from seeding |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow | Apr 30 – May 71–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jun 9 – Jul 1140–65 days from seeding |
| Squash | Direct sow | Apr 30 – May 71–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jun 9 – Jun 2640–50 days from seeding |
| Pumpkins | Direct sow | Apr 30 – May 141–3 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jul 19 – Aug 2280–100 days from seeding |
| Basil | Transplant | Apr 30 – May 71–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jun 11 – Jun 1842 days from transplanting |
| Peppers | Transplant | May 7 – May 142–3 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jul 11 – Jul 2865–75 days from transplanting |
| Eggplant | Transplant | May 7 – May 142–3 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 23) | Jul 16 – Aug 1270–90 days from transplanting |
| Broccoli | Fall transplant | Jul 24 – Aug 710–12 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Oct 16) | Sep 12 – Oct 1650–70 days from transplanting |
| Cabbage | Fall transplant | Jul 24 – Aug 710–12 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Oct 16) | Oct 2 – Nov 570–90 days from transplanting |
| Kale | Fall sow | Aug 7 – Aug 218–10 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Oct 16) | Sep 26 – Oct 3050–70 days from seeding |
| Lettuce | Fall sow | Aug 21 – Sep 46–8 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Oct 16) | Oct 20 – Nov 2360–80 days from seeding |
| Spinach | Fall sow | Aug 28 – Sep 184–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) (avg. Oct 16) | Oct 12 – Nov 1745–60 days from seeding |
| Radishes | Fall sow | Sep 4 – Sep 184–6 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Oct 16) | Sep 24 – Oct 1820–30 days from seeding |
| Daffodils | Fall plant bulbs | Sep 18 – Oct 304 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) (avg. Oct 16) | — |
| Tulips | Fall plant bulbs | Oct 2 – Nov 132 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) (avg. Oct 16) | — |
| Garlic | Fall plant cloves | Oct 2 – Nov 62 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) (avg. Oct 16) | Jun 9 – Aug 3 (next year)250–270 days from planting |
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Harvest estimates add days to harvest from these sources to each planting window, and stop at the first fall frost for frost-tender crops: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Frost dates across Minneapolis’s ZIP codes
Across Minneapolis’s 20 ZIP codes, the median last spring frost ranges from Apr 23 to Apr 30 and the median first fall frost from Oct 8 to Oct 18, depending on which of 3 NOAA stations is nearest. This page uses ZIP 55401, which is in the group most Minneapolis ZIP codes share.
| Nearest NOAA station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Minneapolis ZIP codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower St. Anthony Falls (NOAA name: Lower St Anthony Falls, MN) | Apr 23 | Oct 16 | 16: 55401, 55402, 55403, 55404, 55405, 55406, 55407, 55408, 55409, 55411, 55413, 55414, 55415, 55418, 55454, 55455 |
| Minneapolis/St Paul Airport | Apr 23 | Oct 18 | 3: 55410, 55417, 55419 |
| Minneapolis Crystal Airport (NOAA name: Mpls Crystal Airport, MN) | Apr 30 | Oct 8 | 1: 55412 |
Which ZIP codes count as Minneapolis: the 20 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (2020 ZCTAs) with at least half of their land area inside Minneapolis city limits, from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA to Place Relationship File. ZCTAs are the Census Bureau’s approximations of USPS ZIP Code areas, so this list may not match every USPS ZIP code. Each ZIP code’s dates are the ones our planner shows for it.
How Minneapolis compares
| Area | Median last spring frost | Median first fall frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis (ZIP 55401) | Apr 23 | Oct 16 | 176 |
| Minnesota (median of 881 ZIP codes) | May 4 | Oct 3 | 152 |
| USDA zone 5 (median of 4,869 ZIP codes) | May 3 | Oct 7 | 157 |
How this table is built: each ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles); state and zone rows are medians across those ZIP codes. Zones are the 2023 USDA zones by ZIP code (PRISM).
More for Minneapolis gardeners
- Your own ZIP: open the planner for ZIP 55401 and change the ZIP to yours for its own station and dates.
- Minnesota: When to plant in Minnesota, with frost dates across the state.
- USDA zone 5a: our zone 5 planting guide.
- Frost tonight? How to protect plants from frost.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Minneapolis?
For ZIP 55401 in Minneapolis, the nearest NOAA 1991–2020 normals station (Lower St. Anthony Falls, 1.2 miles away) has a median last spring frost (32°F) of Apr 23. Across Minneapolis’s 20 ZIP codes it ranges from Apr 23 to Apr 30. In about half of years a frost still comes after that date, so tender plants are safer 1–2 weeks later.
When should I plant tomatoes in Minneapolis?
Start tomato seeds indoors Feb 26 – Mar 12 (6–8 weeks before the last frost) and transplant them outdoors Apr 30 – May 7 (1–2 weeks after it), once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State).
What is the first fall frost date in Minneapolis?
The median first fall frost (32°F) for ZIP 55401 is Oct 16, about 176 days after the last spring frost. Across Minneapolis’s ZIP codes it ranges from Oct 8 to Oct 18. Sow fall lettuce Aug 21 – Sep 4 and plant garlic Oct 2 – Nov 6.
What USDA zone is Minneapolis in?
ZIP 55401 in Minneapolis is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plant Hardiness Zone Map: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- UNH Extension: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden
- Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension: Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; FS1220: Spring Flowering Bulbs (Rutgers NJAES)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech): Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-331, Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide
- University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable Planting Calendar; Growing Potatoes in a Home Garden; Growing Onions in a Home Garden; Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; Growing Basil in a Home Garden
- University of Idaho Extension: CIS 1209
- South Dakota State University Extension: Planting Garlic; Harden Your Transplants Prior To Planting Your Garden
- University of Illinois Extension: Ready, Set, Garlic!
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing sweet corn in home gardens; Growing eggplant in home gardens
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR): Growing Peppers
- Colorado State University Extension: Growing tomatoes
- UF/IFAS Extension: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 ZCTA to Place Relationship File