Last spring freeze
Apr 23
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Apr 10 – May 7
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after May 7.
Minneapolis, MN · NOAA frost dates
Minneapolis frost dates & planting calendar
Last spring freeze ~Apr 23, first fall freeze ~Oct 16: a median of 176 frost-free days. The calendar below is already set to Minneapolis (ZIP 55401). Type your own ZIP for the station nearest you.
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Minneapolis, MN · ZIP 55401 · try yours
Minneapolis MN area
Last spring frost
~Apr 23
safer: May 7
First fall frost
~Oct 16
safer: Oct 2
Growing season
176
frost-free days
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall planting
- Harvest
Median dates from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Averages, not forecasts. How it works
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals
Minneapolis frost dates at a glance
32°F freeze dates for the Lower St Anthony Falls, MN weather station, 2 km from ZIP 55401, 230 m up.
First fall freeze
Oct 16
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Oct 2 – Oct 30
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 2.
Growing season
176
median frost-free days
USDA zone 4b
Station: Lower St Anthony Falls, MN
Long-term averages, not a forecast. Your yard can run one to three weeks off these dates, so check the 10-day forecast before planting out.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F freeze probabilities: 10%, 50%, 90%). Public domain. How we use it
Planting dates for Minneapolis
When to plant in Minneapolis
Worked out from the median frost dates (and, for warm-season crops, NOAA’s normal night lows) with the same crop rules as the calendar below. Tap any crop there for its dates.
-
Tomatoes
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant out
- May 19 – Jun 9
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 30, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about May 19, so they go out then, started indoors 9 weeks before. Transplant when nights stay above 50°F (10°C).
-
Peppers
- Start indoors
- Feb 24 – Mar 10
- Transplant out
- May 19 – Jun 2
Frost alone would allow transplanting from May 7, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about May 19, so they go out then, started indoors 12 weeks before. Loves warm soil, 65°F+ (18°C+).
-
Peas
- Sow outside
- Mar 12 – Apr 2
- Fall sowing
- Aug 7 – Aug 21
3–6 weeks before the last frost, and again 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Sow as soon as soil can be worked (40°F/4°C+).
-
Lettuce
- Sow outside
- Mar 26 – May 7
- Fall sowing
- Aug 21 – Sep 18
From 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost, and 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Bolts in heat; sow small batches often.
-
Garlic
- Plant cloves
- Oct 2 – Nov 6
- Harvest
- Jun 25 – Jul 16, next year
2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves in fall; harvest next summer when lower leaves brown.
This week
Right now in your garden
Full year
Your planting calendar
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall sowing / planting
- Harvest
- Harvest the season after planting
- Est. frost date
No crops match. Try another search, or clear “My picks”.
Tap ☆ to add a crop to your picks. Tap a crop name for exact dates and growing notes. Your picks and location are saved on this device.
Straight answers
Frost questions
When is the last frost in Minneapolis?
The median last spring freeze (32°F) at NOAA’s Lower St Anthony Falls, MN station is Apr 23, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Apr 10 and May 7, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after May 7.
When is the first fall frost in Minneapolis?
The median first fall freeze (32°F) is Oct 16. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Oct 2 and Oct 30, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 2. That leaves a median of 176 frost-free days.
When should I plant tomatoes in Minneapolis?
Using FrostLine’s crop rules with the median last frost of Apr 23 and NOAA’s normal night lows: start tomato seeds indoors Mar 17 – Mar 31 and transplant them outside May 19 – Jun 9. Frost alone would allow Apr 30, but nights here only average 50°F (10°C) from about May 19.
Are these dates a forecast?
No. They are long-term averages, not a forecast for this year. Your own garden can differ by one to three weeks with elevation, slope, wind and how built-up it is. Check the 10-day forecast before setting out tender plants, and enter your own ZIP for the nearest station.
How it works: each ZIP is matched to the nearest NOAA station with freeze records. More on our method.
Frost dates by city
More frost dates by city
Each page opens the same free calendar, set to that city. Or start from the home page.
- CO · zone 6a Denver Last frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 12 165 frost-free days
- IL · zone 6b Chicago Last frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Nov 5 209 frost-free days
- WA · zone 9a Seattle Last frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 17 249 frost-free days
- GA · zone 8a Atlanta Last frost ~Mar 24First frost ~Nov 8 229 frost-free days
- TX · zone 8a Dallas Last frost ~Mar 2First frost ~Nov 29 272 frost-free days
- OR · zone 8b Portland Last frost ~Feb 25First frost ~Dec 1 279 frost-free days
- MA · zone 7a Boston Last frost ~Apr 4First frost ~Nov 9 219 frost-free days
- TN · zone 7a Nashville Last frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Oct 31 213 frost-free days
- UT · zone 7a Salt Lake City Last frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 8 222 frost-free days