Frost Dates for Alexandria, MN 56308
Last spring frost May 7 · First fall frost September 28 · 144 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 56308 has about 27,000 people.
Moderate season: 144 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 22–May 23 (31 days). Fall frost risk spans September 18–October 9 (21 days).
Frost probability for 56308
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 23 | May 7 | April 22 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 18 | September 28 | October 9 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at GLENWOOD 2WNW (23.9 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 144-day season in Alexandria
In Alexandria (144 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 2 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | May 29 |
| Pepper | Mar 26 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | Jun 3 |
| Lettuce | Mar 12 | Apr 9–Apr 16 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 16–Apr 23 | 186 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 186 available after Apr 16. | Jul 27 |
| Cucumber | Apr 16 | May 21–May 28 | 116 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 116 available after May 21. | Jul 2 |
| Beans | — | May 14–May 28 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 14. | Jul 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 12–May 21 | 207 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 207 available after Mar 12. | Jul 18 |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 | May 21–May 28 | 116 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 116 available after May 21. | Jul 7 |
| Onion | Feb 12 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 179 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 9. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 12–Apr 30 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 12 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Kale | Feb 26 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Broccoli | Mar 12 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 179 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 9. | Jul 3 |
| Cabbage | Mar 12 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 193 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 9. | Jul 27 |
| Radish | — | Mar 12–Jun 4 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 12 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 27 |
| Beets | — | Mar 12–Jun 4 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 12 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 23–Apr 30 | 165 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 165 available after Apr 23. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 28 | 249 | overwinter: Plant Sep 28 to Oct 19; harvest the following summer. | Oct 19 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 2–May 28 | 200 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 2; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 9 | May 14–May 21 | 116 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 116 available after May 14. | Jun 10 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 23 | May 21–May 21 | 109 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 109 available after May 21. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 26 | Apr 30–May 14 | 158 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 158 available after Apr 30. | Jul 8 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 12 | Apr 23–Apr 23 | 165 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 23 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 12–Jun 4 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 12 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 12 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 193 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 9. | Jun 27 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 23 | May 21–May 28 | 109 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 109 available after May 21. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 19 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | Jun 8 |
| Okra | Apr 9 | May 14–May 21 | 123 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 123 available after May 14. | Jul 7 |
| Basil | Apr 2 | May 28–May 28 | 109 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 109 available after May 28. | Jul 2 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 9–Apr 30 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Parsley | Feb 26 | May 14–May 21 | 144 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 144 available after May 14. | Jul 13 |
| Celery | Feb 26 | May 14–May 28 | 144 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 144 available after May 14. | May 24 |
| Scallions | Feb 26 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 16 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 26–Apr 9 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 26 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 9 | Apr 30–May 7 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 30 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Collards | Feb 26 | Apr 9–Apr 23 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 23 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | May 24 |
| Chives | Feb 12 | May 14–May 21 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after May 14. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 12–Jun 4 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 12 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Oregano | Feb 26 | May 14–May 21 | 158 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 158 available after May 14. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 12 | May 14–May 21 | 144 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 144 available after May 14. | — |
| Sage | Mar 12 | May 14–May 21 | 158 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 158 available after May 14. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 26 | May 14–May 21 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after May 14. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 26 | Apr 23–May 7 | 165 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 23 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Cosmos | Apr 9 | May 7–May 21 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 7. | Jul 2 |
| Lavender | Feb 12 | May 7–May 21 | 165 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 165 available after May 7. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 26 | May 7–May 14 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 12 |
| Melons | Apr 23 | May 21–May 28 | 102 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 102 available after May 21. | May 24 |
| Mint | — | May 7–May 21 | 165 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 165 available after May 7. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 9 | May 7–May 14 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 7 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 7 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 14–May 28 | 123 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 123 available after May 14. | Jun 27 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 23 | May 21–May 28 | 109 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 109 available after May 21. | May 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 7–May 21 | 130 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 130 available after May 7. | Jun 22 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 12 | May 14–May 21 | 109 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 109 available after May 14. | Jun 3 |
| Watermelon | Apr 23 | May 14–May 21 | 109 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 109 available after May 14. | May 29 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 23 | May 21–May 28 | 116 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 116 available after May 21. | Jul 7 |
| Zinnias | Apr 9 | May 7–May 21 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 7. | Jul 2 |
Month by month in Alexandria
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 12), Lavender (Feb 12), Onion (Feb 12), Rosemary (Feb 12), Celery (Feb 26), Collards (Feb 26), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 12), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 12), Cabbage (Mar 12), Lettuce (Mar 12), Sage (Mar 12), Swiss Chard (Mar 12), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 12), Beets (Mar 12), Dill (Mar 12), Peas (Mar 12), Radish (Mar 12), Spinach (Mar 12), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 2), Tomato (Apr 2), Bok Choy (Apr 9), Corn (Apr 9), Cosmos (Apr 9), Nasturtiums (Apr 9), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 9), Turnip (Apr 9), Carrots (Apr 16), Potatoes (Apr 23). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 9), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 9), Cabbage (Apr 9), Collards (Apr 9), Kale (Apr 9), Lettuce (Apr 9), +6 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 2). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 7), Beans (May 14), Pole Beans (May 14). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 7), Lavender (May 7), Marigolds (May 7), Mint (May 7), Nasturtiums (May 7), Zinnias (May 7), +23 more. Last frost around May 7. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 24), Celery (May 24), Melons (May 24), Spaghetti Squash (May 26), Tomato (May 29), Watermelon (May 29). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 3), Tomatillos (Jun 3), Eggplant (Jun 8), Corn (Jun 10), Sunflowers (Jun 22), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 27), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 2), Cosmos (Jul 2), Cucumber (Jul 2), Zinnias (Jul 2), Broccoli (Jul 3), Nasturtiums (Jul 7), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 2), Cilantro (Aug 2), Collards (Aug 6), Scallions (Aug 6), Bok Choy (Aug 7), Lettuce (Aug 7), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 28). First frost around September 28. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 19). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Alexandria, MN (ZIP 56308)?
The median last spring frost date for Alexandria, MN (ZIP code 56308) is around May 7. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 22; one in ten it runs past May 23.
What is the first fall frost date in Alexandria, MN?
The median first fall frost date for Alexandria, MN is around September 28. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 18 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Alexandria, MN?
The frost-free growing season in Alexandria is about 144 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Alexandria (144 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Alexandria, MN?
Alexandria, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Alexandria, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 2 and plant out May 21 in Alexandria. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Alexandria?
Two: plant Apr 9 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5.
When do I plant garlic in Alexandria?
Sep 28 to Oct 19; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Willmar (ZIP 56201) has 151 frost-free days, 7 more than Alexandria (ZIP 56308). See Willmar ZIP 56201 frost dates
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