In Minneapolis, the average last spring frost is Apr 28 and the average first fall frost is Oct 12, a growing season of about 167 days (zone 5a). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 17 and move them outside from May 12. Plant garlic Oct 19 to Oct 26, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Minneapolis at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 28 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 12 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 167 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Lower St Anthony Falls, MN; U of MN St Paul, MN; and NEW Hope, MN, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Minneapolis in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 17.
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 17
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 17
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 17
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 17
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 17
- Start kale indoors: Mar 24
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 24
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 24
- Start basil indoors: Mar 31
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 7), direct sow peas (Apr 7), direct sow radishes (Apr 7), transplant lettuce (Apr 14), direct sow carrots (Apr 14), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 14), start zucchini indoors (Apr 14) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 14).
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 7
- Direct sow peas: Apr 7
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 7
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 14
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 14
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 14
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 14
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 14
- Direct sow beets: Apr 21
- Transplant kale: Apr 21
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 21
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 21
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 21
- Transplant onions: Apr 28
Coming up in early May: transplant cucumbers (May 5), transplant zucchini (May 5), transplant winter squash (May 5), direct sow beans (May 5), transplant tomatoes (May 12), transplant peppers (May 12), transplant eggplant (May 12) and transplant basil (May 12).
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (May)
- Transplant cucumbers: May 5
- Transplant zucchini: May 5
- Transplant winter squash: May 5
- Direct sow beans: May 5
- Transplant tomatoes: May 12
- Transplant peppers: May 12
- Transplant eggplant: May 12
- Transplant basil: May 12
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Minneapolis in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 3.
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Minneapolis in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 3.
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 3
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 3
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 17
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 24
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 7).
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 7
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 19 to Oct 26
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Minneapolis in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 17.
What to plant in Minneapolis this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Minneapolis in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 17.
Minneapolis planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 29 |
| Peppers | Mar 17 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 23 |
| Eggplant | Mar 17 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 26 |
| Basil | Mar 31 | Transplant May 12 | From Jun 23 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 17 | Transplant Apr 28 | From Aug 6 |
| Lettuce | Mar 17 | Transplant Apr 14Fall: direct sow Aug 17 | From May 24Fall: from Sep 26 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7Fall: direct sow Aug 24 | From May 17Fall: from Oct 3 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7Fall: direct sow Aug 3 | From Jun 6Fall: from Oct 2 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 7Fall: direct sow Sep 7 | From May 2Fall: from Oct 2 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 14 | From Jun 23 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 21 | From Jun 15 |
| Kale | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21Fall: direct sow Aug 3 | From Jun 15Fall: from Sep 27 |
| Broccoli | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21 | From Jun 25 |
| Cabbage | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21 | From Jun 30 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 | Transplant May 5 | From Jun 29 |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 | Transplant May 5 | From Jun 24 |
| Winter squash | Apr 14 | Transplant May 5 | From Aug 3 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 5 | From Jun 29 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 21 | From Jul 10 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 19 to Oct 26 | Around Jul 21 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Minneapolis's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Minneapolis
Plant garlic Oct 19 to Oct 26. That is one to two weeks after Minneapolis's average first fall frost of Oct 12, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 21 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Minneapolis.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Minneapolis:
- Peas: sow Aug 3, ready from about Oct 2
- Kale: sow Aug 3, ready from about Sep 27
- Lettuce: sow Aug 17, ready from about Sep 26
- Spinach: sow Aug 24, ready from about Oct 3
- Radishes: sow Sep 7, ready from about Oct 2
Nearby planting calendars
Minneapolis planting questions
When is the last frost in Minneapolis?
The average last spring frost in Minneapolis is Apr 28, and the average first fall frost is Oct 12, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Minneapolis?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 17, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 12, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Minneapolis in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 19 to Oct 26. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 3, lettuce around Aug 17, spinach around Aug 24 and radishes around Sep 7.