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Frost dates and planting calendar for Minneapolis, Minnesota

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
5a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 23[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 16[3]
Growing season, median
175 days[4]

Minneapolis sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a[1]. At the nearest NOAA station, the median last spring frost is April 23, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 10, half of years Apr 23, 1 in 10 years after May 7Last frostmedian Apr 23First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Oct 30, half of years Oct 16, 1 in 10 years before Oct 2First frostmedian Oct 16Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 23around Apr 23Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 7from May 7
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

Frost dates here come from NOAA records for the Lower St Anthony Falls weather station near the center of Minneapolis, from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 23, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2]. In fall, the median first frost is October 16, and in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 2[3]. These are chances, not promises, so any single year can be earlier or later. In half of years the growing season between frosts is at least 175 days[4].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 10 after April 23 after May 7
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 2 before October 16 before October 30
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 14, median first fall date October 27[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 155 days in 9 of 10 years, 175 days in half of years and 192 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Lower St Anthony Falls (USC00214884), 1.5 miles from the city center, 754 feet, 25 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension sorts vegetables into groups by how well they handle cold, and its guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts applies those rules to the Minneapolis median last frost of April 23[6]. Hardy crops such as peas, lettuce and spinach can go in as early as March 26 to April 9[6]. Semi-hardy crops such as beets, carrots and potatoes can start as early as April 9, up to the median date itself[9]. Very tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median, so May 7 is the earliest start, not the planting day[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 23) is March 26 to April 9[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 23) is April 9, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 23[11]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 23), is May 7[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 30 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 26 Jun 19 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 15
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 25
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 26 Jul 14
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 30
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 26 Apr 25
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 5
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 15
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 9 Jun 8
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 9 Jun 18
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 9 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 9 Jun 18
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 9 Aug 12
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 9 Jun 8
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 23 Jun 22
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 23 Jun 22
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 23 Jun 17
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 23 Jun 12
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 7 Jul 31
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 7 Jul 6 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 7 Jul 16 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 7 Jul 11 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 7 Aug 15
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 7 Jul 31
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 5a means the coldest winter night averages -20°F to -15°F, based on 1991 to 2020 data on the USDA map[1]. The zone tells you about winter cold, not frost dates or summer heat[14]. By land area, all of Minneapolis lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 5a[15].

Zone 5a: average annual extreme minimum temperature -20°F to -15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -16.9°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 5a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 5a and what zone 5a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
55418[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55406[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55419[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55417[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55407[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55411[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55412[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55413[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55414[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55405[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55408[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55410[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55404[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55430[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55403[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55409[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55416[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55401[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55454[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55455[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55415[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55450[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55421[15] 5a -20 to -15°F
55423[15] 5a -20 to -15°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Minneapolis?
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Minneapolis in zone 5a[1].
When is the last frost in Minneapolis?
The median last spring frost is April 23, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Minneapolis?
Colorado State University Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[10]. For Minneapolis that makes May 7 the earliest start[10].
When is the first frost in Minneapolis?
The median first fall frost is October 16[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 2[3].
How long is the growing season in Minneapolis?
In half of years there are at least 175 days between the last spring frost and the first fall frost[4]. In 9 of 10 years there are at least 155 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Minneapolis, Minnesota in zone 5a. Zone 5a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -20°F to -15°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 16.9°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 10, in half of years after April 23, and in 1 of 10 years after May 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 23. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 2, in half of years before October 16, and in 9 of 10 years before October 30 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 155 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 175 days in half of years, and at least 192 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Lower St Anthony Falls weather station (USC00214884), 1.5 miles from the center of Minneapolis at 754 feet, using 25 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 14 and the median first fall date is October 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Minneapolis, Minnesota overlaps 24 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 5a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.