Minnesota Frost Dates

Average last spring and first fall frost for Minnesota cities, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. Click a city for its full planting guide.

CityLast spring frostFirst fall frostSeasonZone
Minneapolis Apr 23 Oct 16 176 days 5a
Duluth May 14 Oct 12 151 days 4b
Rochester Apr 30 Oct 6 159 days 5a

All Minnesota station records (176)

Every NOAA weather station in Minnesota with complete 1991–2020 frost normals — pick the one nearest you (similar elevation matters more than plain distance).

Not sure which station to trust? Use the ZIP code lookup for the quick answer, or pick the station whose terrain most resembles your garden.

Planning a Minnesota garden around these dates

Count back from the last spring frost to schedule indoor seed starting (the seed starting scheduler automates it), plant hardy crops in the weeks before the date, and hold tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil — until after it. In fall, the first frost date is the deadline: crops must mature before it, which is what our planting calendar counts backwards for you. Crop-by-crop timing for every USDA zone lives under when to plant.