Frost Dates for Owatonna, MN 55060
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost September 27 · 147 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 55060 has about 29,600 people.
Moderate season: 147 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 17 (28 days). Fall frost risk spans September 14–October 10 (26 days).
Frost probability for 55060
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 17 | May 3 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 14 | September 27 | October 10 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at OWATONNA (4.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 147-day season in Owatonna
In Owatonna (147 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 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 | 105 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 105 available after May 17. | May 28 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 105 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 105 available after May 17. | Jun 2 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 6 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 189 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 189 available after Apr 12. | Jul 26 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jul 1 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 10. | Jul 8 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 210 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 210 available after Mar 8. | Jul 17 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jul 6 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 182 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 25 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 182 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 5. | Jul 2 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 5. | Jul 26 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 26 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 27 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 27 | 252 | overwinter: Plant Sep 27 to Oct 18; harvest the following summer. | Oct 18 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 203 | 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 | 119 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 119 available after May 10. | Jun 9 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 17. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after Apr 26. | Jul 7 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 27 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 25 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 5. | Jun 26 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 17. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 105 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 105 available after May 17. | Jun 7 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 126 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 6; both mature before Sep 13. | Jul 6 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 112 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 112 available after May 24. | Jul 1 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 1 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 147 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 147 available after May 10. | Jul 12 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 147 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 147 available after May 10. | May 23 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 5 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 15 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 10 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 161 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 6 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 18. | Aug 5 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 17. | May 23 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 4. | Jul 27 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 161 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 147 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 147 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 4. | Aug 1 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 3. | Jul 1 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 13. | Jul 11 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 17. | May 23 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 6; both mature before Sep 13. | Jul 6 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 126 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 126 available after May 10. | Jun 26 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 112 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 112 available after May 17. | May 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 133 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 133 available after May 3. | Jun 21 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 112 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 112 available after May 10. | Jun 2 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 112 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 112 available after May 10. | May 28 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 17. | Jul 6 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 3. | Jul 1 |
Month by month in Owatonna
| 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: Cantaloupe (May 23), Celery (May 23), Melons (May 23), Spaghetti Squash (May 25), Tomato (May 28), Watermelon (May 28). |
| June | 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 Owatonna, MN (ZIP 55060)?
The median last spring frost date for Owatonna, MN (ZIP code 55060) 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 Owatonna, MN?
The median first fall frost date for Owatonna, 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 14 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Owatonna, MN?
The frost-free growing season in Owatonna is about 147 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 Owatonna (147 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Owatonna, MN?
Owatonna, 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 Owatonna, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Owatonna. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Owatonna?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 4.
When do I plant garlic in Owatonna?
Sep 27 to Oct 18; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Albert Lea (ZIP 56007) has 156 frost-free days, 9 more than Owatonna (ZIP 55060). See Albert Lea ZIP 56007 frost dates
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