Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Stanley, ND

The average first fall frost in Stanley, ND is September 23, and the average last spring frost is May 17, giving a growing season of about 127 days.

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

Last Spring Frost

May 17

Safe May 29 Typical May 17 Risky May 7

First Fall Frost

September 23

Safe Sep 12 Typical Sep 23 Risky Oct 3

Growing Season

127 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 4a

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

Data: NOAA station STANLEY 3 NNW, ND US, 4.7 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Stanley Compares

Stanley's typical last spring frost (May 17) comes later than in 75% of the 20 North Dakota cities we track.
Its 127-day growing season is 15 days shorter than the North Dakota median of 142 days.
Compared with Minot Air Force Base (79 km away), Stanley's last spring frost comes 6 days later than Minot Air Force Base's, and its first fall frost arrives 6 days earlier.
August is the warmest month (average high 80°F) and January the coldest (average low -1°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Mar 22 – Apr 5	—	May 24 – May 31	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	May 24 – Jun 7	—	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	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	May 31 – Jun 7	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Apr 19 – Apr 26	May 24 – May 31	May 24 – May 31	—	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 26 – May 3	May 24 – Jun 7	May 24 – May 31	—	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 19 – Apr 26	May 24 – Jun 7	May 24 – May 31	—	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 24 – Jun 7	—	—	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 19 – Apr 26	—	May 31 – Jun 7	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Apr 19 – Apr 26	—	May 31 – Jun 7	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	May 17 – May 31	—	—	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 17 – May 31	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Apr 19 – May 3	—	Jul 29 – Aug 12	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	Jul 29 – Aug 12	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Apr 19 – May 3	—	Jul 15 – Jul 29	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Apr 19 – May 3	—	Aug 12 – Aug 19	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 26 – May 10	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Apr 26 – May 3	Jul 22 – Jul 29	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 29 – Apr 12	—	May 3 – May 10	Jul 15 – Jul 22	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 29 – Apr 12	—	Apr 19 – May 3	Jul 15 – Jul 29	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 29 – Apr 12	—	Apr 26 – May 10	—	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 19 – May 3	—	Jul 1 – Jul 15	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 19 – May 3	—	Jul 15 – Jul 29	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Apr 12 – Apr 26	—	Aug 12 – Aug 26	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 19 – May 3	—	Jul 15 – Jul 29	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Mar 8 – Mar 22	—	Apr 19 – May 3	—	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	—	—	—	Aug 26 – Sep 9	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Apr 19 – May 3	—	—	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 31 – Jun 14	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Apr 19 – May 3	—	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	Apr 5 – Apr 12	—	May 24 – May 31	—	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 26 – May 10	—	Jul 29 – Aug 12	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Mar 22 – Apr 5	—	May 3 – May 10	—	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 26 – May 10	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Mar 22 – Apr 5	—	May 17 – May 24	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Mar 22 – Apr 5	—	May 17 – May 24	—	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 24 – Jun 7	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Apr 19 – Apr 26	May 24 – Jun 7	May 24 – May 31	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Apr 5 – Apr 19	—	May 24 – May 31	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Apr 19 – Apr 26	May 24 – Jun 7	May 24 – May 31	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	May 24 – Jun 7	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	May 24 – Jun 7	—	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 Stanley, ND?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the STANLEY 3 NNW, ND US station, the last spring frost in Stanley typically falls around May 17. A cautious gardener might wait until May 29 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while May 7 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Stanley, ND in fall?

The first fall frost in Stanley typically arrives around September 23. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 12; in milder years it can hold off until October 3.

How long is the growing season in Stanley, ND?

Stanley's average frost-free growing season is about 127 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 17) to the typical first fall frost (September 23).

What USDA hardiness zone is Stanley, ND in?

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