Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Saint Cloud, MN

The average first fall frost in Saint Cloud, MN is September 30, and the average last spring frost is May 7, giving a growing season of about 144 days.

Plan your garden around Saint Cloud, MN's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

May 7

Safe May 23 Typical May 7 Risky Apr 24

First Fall Frost

September 30

Safe Sep 16 Typical Sep 30 Risky Oct 12

Growing Season

144 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 4b

Very cold winters, focus on short-season varieties and cold-hardy perennials.

Data: NOAA station ST CLOUD RGNL AP, MN US, 8.9 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Saint Cloud Compares

Saint Cloud's typical last spring frost (May 7) comes later than in 89% of the 104 Minnesota cities we track.
Its 144-day growing season is 17 days shorter than the Minnesota median of 161 days.
Compared with Maple Grove (77 km away), Saint Cloud's last spring frost comes 7 days later than Maple Grove's, and its first fall frost arrives 8 days earlier.
July is the warmest month (average high 82°F) and January the coldest (average low 3°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	May 14 – May 21	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	May 14 – May 28	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	May 21 – May 28	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Apr 9 – Apr 16	May 14 – May 21	May 14 – May 21	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Apr 16 – Apr 23	May 14 – May 28	May 14 – May 21	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Apr 9 – Apr 16	May 14 – May 28	May 14 – May 21	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	May 14 – May 28	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Apr 9 – Apr 16	—	May 21 – May 28	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Apr 9 – Apr 16	—	May 21 – May 28	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	May 7 – May 21	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	May 7 – May 21	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 26 – Apr 9	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Aug 5 – Aug 19	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 26 – Apr 9	—	Aug 5 – Aug 19	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Jul 22 – Aug 5	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Aug 19 – Aug 26	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Apr 16 – Apr 30	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	Apr 16 – Apr 23	Jul 29 – Aug 5	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	Apr 23 – Apr 30	Jul 22 – Jul 29	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	Jul 22 – Aug 5	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 19 – Apr 2	—	Apr 16 – Apr 30	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Jul 8 – Jul 22	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Jul 22 – Aug 5	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Apr 2 – Apr 16	—	Aug 19 – Sep 2	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	Jul 22 – Aug 5	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 26 – Mar 12	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Sep 2 – Sep 16	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	May 21 – Jun 4	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Apr 9 – Apr 23	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 26 – Apr 2	—	May 14 – May 21	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Apr 16 – Apr 30	—	Aug 5 – Aug 19	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	Apr 23 – Apr 30	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Apr 16 – Apr 30	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	May 7 – May 14	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Mar 12 – Mar 26	—	May 7 – May 14	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	May 14 – May 28	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Apr 9 – Apr 16	May 14 – May 28	May 14 – May 21	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Mar 26 – Apr 9	—	May 14 – May 21	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Apr 9 – Apr 16	May 14 – May 28	May 14 – May 21	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	May 14 – May 28	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	May 14 – May 28	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Saint Cloud, MN?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the ST CLOUD RGNL AP, MN US station, the last spring frost in Saint Cloud typically falls around May 7. A cautious gardener might wait until May 23 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 24 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Saint Cloud, MN in fall?

The first fall frost in Saint Cloud typically arrives around September 30. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 16; in milder years it can hold off until October 12.

How long is the growing season in Saint Cloud, MN?

Saint Cloud's average frost-free growing season is about 144 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 7) to the typical first fall frost (September 30).

What USDA hardiness zone is Saint Cloud, MN in?

Saint Cloud, MN is in USDA plant hardiness zone 4b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Very cold winters, focus on short-season varieties and cold-hardy perennials.