Frost Dates for Northfield, MN 55057
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost September 30 · 150 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 55057 has about 25,700 people.
Moderate season: 150 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 17 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 18–October 11 (23 days).
Frost probability for 55057
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 17 | May 3 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 18 | September 30 | October 11 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at ROSEMOUNT RSCH & OUTREACH CTR (27.9 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 150-day season in Northfield
In Northfield (150 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | 108 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 108 available after May 17. | May 31 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 108 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 108 available after May 17. | Jun 5 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 192 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 192 available after Apr 12. | Jul 29 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 122 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 122 available after May 17. | Jul 4 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 11 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 213 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 213 available after Mar 8. | Jul 20 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 122 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 122 available after May 17. | Jul 9 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 185 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 185 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 5. | Jul 5 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 199 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 5. | Jul 29 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 29 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 171 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 30 | 255 | overwinter: Plant Sep 30 to Oct 21; harvest the following summer. | Oct 21 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 206 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 122 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 122 available after May 10. | Jun 12 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 115 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 115 available after May 17. | May 18 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 164 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 164 available after Apr 26. | Jul 10 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 171 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 199 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 5. | Jun 29 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 115 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 115 available after May 17. | May 18 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 108 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 108 available after May 17. | Jun 10 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 129 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 115 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 115 available after May 24. | Jul 4 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 150 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 150 available after May 10. | Jul 15 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 150 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 150 available after May 10. | May 26 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 18 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 164 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 108 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 108 available after May 17. | May 26 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 164 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 164 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 150 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 150 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 164 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 164 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 171 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 4; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 4 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 171 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 171 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 14 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 108 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 108 available after May 17. | May 26 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 171 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 171 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 129 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 129 available after May 10. | Jun 29 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 115 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 115 available after May 17. | May 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 136 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 136 available after May 3. | Jun 24 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 115 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 115 available after May 10. | Jun 5 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 115 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 115 available after May 10. | May 31 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 122 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 122 available after May 17. | Jul 9 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 4; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 4 |
Month by month in Northfield
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 18), Pumpkin (May 18), Cantaloupe (May 26), Celery (May 26), Melons (May 26), Spaghetti Squash (May 28), +2 more. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 5), Tomatillos (Jun 5), Eggplant (Jun 10), Corn (Jun 12), Sunflowers (Jun 24), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 29), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 4), Cosmos (Jul 4), Cucumber (Jul 4), Zinnias (Jul 4), Broccoli (Jul 5), Nasturtiums (Jul 9), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 4), Cilantro (Aug 4), Collards (Aug 8), Scallions (Aug 8), Bok Choy (Aug 9), Lettuce (Aug 9), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 30). First frost around September 30. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 21). |
| 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 Northfield, MN (ZIP 55057)?
The median last spring frost date for Northfield, MN (ZIP code 55057) is around May 3. 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 19; one in ten it runs past May 17.
What is the first fall frost date in Northfield, MN?
The median first fall frost date for Northfield, MN is around September 30. 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 Northfield, MN?
The frost-free growing season in Northfield is about 150 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 Northfield (150 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Northfield, MN?
Northfield, 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 Northfield, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Northfield. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Northfield?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7.
When do I plant garlic in Northfield?
Sep 30 to Oct 21; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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