Frost Dates for Elk River, MN 55330
Last spring frost May 11 · First fall frost September 27 · 139 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 55330 has about 45,700 people.
Moderate season: 139 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 23–May 29 (36 days). Fall frost risk spans September 16–October 8 (22 days).
Frost probability for 55330
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 29 | May 11 | April 23 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 16 | September 27 | October 8 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at CEDAR (22.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 139-day season in Elk River
In Elk River (139 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 6 | May 25–Jun 1 | 97 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 97 available after May 25. | May 28 |
| Pepper | Mar 30 | May 25–Jun 1 | 97 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 97 available after May 25. | Jun 2 |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 6 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 181 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 20. | Jul 26 |
| Cucumber | Apr 20 | May 25–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 111 available after May 25. | Jul 1 |
| Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 18. | Jul 8 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16–May 25 | 202 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 202 available after Mar 16. | Jul 17 |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 111 available after May 25. | Jul 6 |
| Onion | Feb 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 174 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 174 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 16–May 4 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 25 |
| Kale | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Broccoli | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 174 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 174 available after Apr 13. | Jul 2 |
| Cabbage | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 188 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 13. | Jul 26 |
| Radish | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 26 |
| Beets | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 27 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27–May 4 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after Apr 27. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 27 | 244 | overwinter: Plant Sep 27 to Oct 18; harvest the following summer. | Oct 18 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 6–Jun 1 | 195 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 6; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after May 18. | Jun 9 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 27 | May 25–May 25 | 104 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30 | May 4–May 18 | 153 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 153 available after May 4. | Jul 7 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 16 | Apr 27–Apr 27 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 27 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 25 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 188 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 13. | Jun 26 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 23 | May 25–Jun 1 | 97 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 97 available after May 25. | Jun 7 |
| Okra | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 18. | Jul 6 |
| Basil | Apr 6 | Jun 1–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 104 available after Jun 1. | Jul 1 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 13–May 4 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 1 |
| Parsley | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 139 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 139 available after May 18. | Jul 12 |
| Celery | Mar 2 | May 18–Jun 1 | 139 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 139 available after May 18. | May 23 |
| Scallions | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 5 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 15 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 30–Apr 13 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 13 | May 4–May 11 | 153 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 6 |
| Collards | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 5 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 97 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 97 available after May 25. | — |
| Chives | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 153 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 153 available after May 18. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 27 |
| Oregano | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 153 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 153 available after May 18. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 139 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 139 available after May 18. | — |
| Sage | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 153 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 153 available after May 18. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 153 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 153 available after May 18. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 1 |
| Cosmos | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 11. | Jul 1 |
| Lavender | Feb 16 | May 11–May 25 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 11. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 30 | May 11–May 18 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 13. | Jul 11 |
| Melons | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 97 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 97 available after May 25. | — |
| Mint | — | May 11–May 25 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 11. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 13 | May 11–May 18 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 6; both mature before Sep 13. | Jul 6 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 118 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 118 available after May 18. | Jun 26 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 104 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 104 available after May 25. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 11–May 25 | 125 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 125 available after May 11. | Jun 21 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 104 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 104 available after May 18. | Jun 2 |
| Watermelon | Apr 27 | May 18–May 25 | 104 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 104 available after May 18. | May 28 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 111 available after May 25. | Jul 6 |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 11. | Jul 1 |
Month by month in Elk River
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 16), Lavender (Feb 16), Onion (Feb 16), Rosemary (Feb 16). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 2), Collards (Mar 2), Kale (Mar 2), Oregano (Mar 2), Parsley (Mar 2), Scallions (Mar 2), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 16), Beets (Mar 16), Dill (Mar 16), Peas (Mar 16), Radish (Mar 16), Spinach (Mar 16), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 6), Tomato (Apr 6), Bok Choy (Apr 13), Corn (Apr 13), Cosmos (Apr 13), Nasturtiums (Apr 13), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 13), Turnip (Apr 13), Carrots (Apr 20), Potatoes (Apr 27). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 13), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 13), Cabbage (Apr 13), Collards (Apr 13), Kale (Apr 13), Lettuce (Apr 13), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 6). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 11), Beans (May 18), Pole Beans (May 18). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 4), Cauliflower (May 4), Cosmos (May 11), Lavender (May 11), Marigolds (May 11), Mint (May 11), +24 more. Last frost around May 11. Last sowing dates: Celery (May 23), Tomato (May 28), Watermelon (May 28). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 1). Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 2), Tomatillos (Jun 2), Eggplant (Jun 7), Corn (Jun 9), Sunflowers (Jun 21), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 26), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 1), Cosmos (Jul 1), Cucumber (Jul 1), Zinnias (Jul 1), Broccoli (Jul 2), Nasturtiums (Jul 6), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 1), Cilantro (Aug 1), Collards (Aug 5), Scallions (Aug 5), Bok Choy (Aug 6), Lettuce (Aug 6), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 27). First frost around September 27. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 18). |
| 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 Elk River, MN (ZIP 55330)?
The median last spring frost date for Elk River, MN (ZIP code 55330) is around May 11. 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 23; one in ten it runs past May 29.
What is the first fall frost date in Elk River, MN?
The median first fall frost date for Elk River, MN is around September 27. 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 16 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Elk River, MN?
The frost-free growing season in Elk River is about 139 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 Elk River (139 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 Elk River, MN?
Elk River, 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 Elk River, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 6 and plant out May 25 in Elk River. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Elk River?
Two: plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 4.
When do I plant garlic in Elk River?
Sep 27 to Oct 18; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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