Frost Dates for Saint Cloud, MN 56301
Last spring frost May 4 · First fall frost September 30 · 149 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 56301 has about 35,600 people, the largest of 3 ZIP codes in Saint Cloud.
Moderate season: 149 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 18–May 20 (32 days). Fall frost risk spans September 17–October 14 (27 days).
Frost probability for 56301
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 20 | May 4 | April 18 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 17 | September 30 | October 14 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at LITCHFIELD (46.0 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Frost dates by ZIP code in Saint Cloud, MN
| ZIP | Last spring frost (50%) | First fall frost (50%) | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56301 | May 4 | September 30 | 4b |
| 56303 | May 9 | September 26 | 4b |
| 56304 | May 14 | September 23 | 4b |
Which crops fit a 149-day season in Saint Cloud
In Saint Cloud (149 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 30 | May 18–May 25 | 107 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 107 available after May 18. | May 31 |
| Pepper | Mar 23 | May 18–May 25 | 107 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 107 available after May 18. | Jun 5 |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 13 | 184 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 191 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 191 available after Apr 13. | Jul 29 |
| Cucumber | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 121 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 121 available after May 18. | Jul 4 |
| Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 135 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 11 |
| Peas | — | Mar 9–May 18 | 212 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 212 available after Mar 9. | Jul 20 |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 121 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 121 available after May 18. | Jul 9 |
| Onion | Feb 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 184 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 184 available after Apr 6. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 9–Apr 27 | 226 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Kale | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 198 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 184 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 184 available after Apr 6. | Jul 5 |
| Cabbage | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 198 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 198 available after Apr 6. | Jul 29 |
| Radish | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 212 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 29 |
| Beets | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 212 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 170 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 170 available after Apr 20. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 30 | 254 | overwinter: Plant Sep 30 to Oct 21; harvest the following summer. | Oct 21 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 30–May 25 | 205 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 30; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 121 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 121 available after May 11. | Jun 12 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 20 | May 18–May 18 | 114 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 114 available after May 18. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 23 | Apr 27–May 11 | 163 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 163 available after Apr 27. | Jul 10 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 9 | Apr 20–Apr 20 | 170 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 226 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 198 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 198 available after Apr 6. | Jun 29 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 114 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 114 available after May 18. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 107 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 107 available after May 18. | Jun 10 |
| Okra | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 128 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Basil | Mar 30 | May 25–May 25 | 114 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 114 available after May 25. | Jul 4 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 6–Apr 27 | 184 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Parsley | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 149 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 149 available after May 11. | Jul 15 |
| Celery | Feb 23 | May 11–May 25 | 149 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 149 available after May 11. | May 26 |
| Scallions | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 198 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 198 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 18 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 23–Apr 6 | 212 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 23 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 6 | Apr 27–May 4 | 163 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Collards | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 198 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 107 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 107 available after May 18. | May 26 |
| Chives | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 163 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 163 available after May 11. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 212 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Oregano | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 163 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 163 available after May 11. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 149 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 149 available after May 11. | — |
| Sage | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 163 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 163 available after May 11. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 163 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 163 available after May 11. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 23 | Apr 20–May 4 | 170 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Cosmos | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 135 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 4; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 4 |
| Lavender | Feb 9 | May 4–May 18 | 170 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 170 available after May 4. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 23 | May 4–May 11 | 135 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 14 |
| Melons | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 107 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 107 available after May 18. | May 26 |
| Mint | — | May 4–May 18 | 170 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 170 available after May 4. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 6 | May 4–May 11 | 135 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 128 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 128 available after May 11. | Jun 29 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 114 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 114 available after May 18. | May 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 4–May 18 | 135 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 135 available after May 4. | Jun 24 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 114 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 114 available after May 11. | Jun 5 |
| Watermelon | Apr 20 | May 11–May 18 | 114 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 114 available after May 11. | May 31 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 121 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 121 available after May 18. | Jul 9 |
| Zinnias | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 135 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 4; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 4 |
Month by month in Saint Cloud
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 9), Lavender (Feb 9), Onion (Feb 9), Rosemary (Feb 9), Celery (Feb 23), Collards (Feb 23), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 9), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 9), Cabbage (Mar 9), Lettuce (Mar 9), Sage (Mar 9), Swiss Chard (Mar 9), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 9), Beets (Mar 9), Dill (Mar 9), Peas (Mar 9), Radish (Mar 9), Spinach (Mar 9), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 30). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 6), Corn (Apr 6), Cosmos (Apr 6), Nasturtiums (Apr 6), Okra (Apr 6), Zinnias (Apr 6), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 6), Turnip (Apr 6), Carrots (Apr 13), Potatoes (Apr 20). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 6), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 6), Cabbage (Apr 6), Collards (Apr 6), Kale (Apr 6), Lettuce (Apr 6), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 4), Beans (May 11), Pole Beans (May 11). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 4), Lavender (May 4), Marigolds (May 4), Mint (May 4), Nasturtiums (May 4), Zinnias (May 4), +23 more. Last frost around May 4. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 26), Celery (May 26), Melons (May 26), Spaghetti Squash (May 28), Tomato (May 31), Watermelon (May 31). |
| 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 Saint Cloud, MN (ZIP 56301)?
The median last spring frost date for Saint Cloud, MN (ZIP code 56301) is around May 4. 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 18; one in ten it runs past May 20.
What is the first fall frost date in Saint Cloud, MN?
The median first fall frost date for Saint Cloud, 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 17 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Saint Cloud, MN?
The frost-free growing season in Saint Cloud is about 149 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 Saint Cloud (149 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 Saint Cloud, MN?
Saint Cloud, 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 Saint Cloud, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 30 and plant out May 18 in Saint Cloud. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Saint Cloud?
Two: plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7.
When do I plant garlic in Saint Cloud?
Sep 30 to Oct 21; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Nearby and related
- Frost dates for Cold Spring, MN 56320 (8.6 mi)
- Frost dates for Saint Joseph, MN 56374 (9.3 mi)
- Frost dates for Clearwater, MN 55320 (9.9 mi)
- Frost dates for Sartell, MN 56377 (10.6 mi)
- Frost dates for Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 (13 mi)
- When to plant in MN
- When to plant Peppers in MN
- When to plant Cucumbers in MN
- When to plant Zucchini in MN
- When to plant Butternut Squash in MN
- When to plant Basil in MN
- When to plant Sweet Corn in MN
- Look up another ZIP