Frost Dates for Worthington, MN 56187
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost September 28 · 148 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5a
ZIP 56187 has about 15,200 people.
Moderate season: 148 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 20–May 15 (25 days). Fall frost risk spans September 15–October 12 (27 days).
Frost probability for 56187
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 15 | May 3 | April 20 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 15 | September 28 | October 12 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at WORTHINGTON 2 NNE (2.4 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 148-day season in Worthington
In Worthington (148 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 | 106 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 106 available after May 17. | May 29 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 106 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 106 available after May 17. | Jun 3 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 190 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 12. | Jul 27 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jul 2 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 21. | Jul 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 211 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 211 available after Mar 8. | Jul 18 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jul 7 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 183 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 183 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 5. | Jul 3 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 5. | Jul 27 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 27 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 28 | 253 | overwinter: Plant Sep 28 to Oct 19; harvest the following summer. | Oct 19 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 204 | 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 | 120 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 120 available after May 10. | Jun 10 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 113 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 113 available after May 17. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 162 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 162 available after Apr 26. | Jul 8 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 5. | Jun 27 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 113 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 113 available after May 17. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 106 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 106 available after May 17. | Jun 8 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 127 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 7 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 113 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 113 available after May 24. | Jul 2 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 148 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 148 available after May 10. | Jul 13 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 148 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 148 available after May 10. | May 24 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 16 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 162 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 106 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 106 available after May 17. | May 24 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 162 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 162 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 148 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 148 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 162 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 162 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 162 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 2; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 2 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 12 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 106 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 106 available after May 17. | May 24 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 7 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 127 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 127 available after May 10. | Jun 27 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 113 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 113 available after May 17. | May 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 134 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 134 available after May 3. | Jun 22 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 113 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 113 available after May 10. | Jun 3 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 113 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 113 available after May 10. | May 29 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 120 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 120 available after May 17. | Jul 7 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 2; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 2 |
Month by month in Worthington
| 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 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 Worthington, MN (ZIP 56187)?
The median last spring frost date for Worthington, MN (ZIP code 56187) 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 20; one in ten it runs past May 15.
What is the first fall frost date in Worthington, MN?
The median first fall frost date for Worthington, 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 15 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Worthington, MN?
The frost-free growing season in Worthington is about 148 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 Worthington (148 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 Worthington, MN?
Worthington, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (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 Worthington, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Worthington. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Worthington?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5.
When do I plant garlic in Worthington?
Sep 28 to Oct 19; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Fairmont (ZIP 56031) has 159 frost-free days, 11 more than Worthington (ZIP 56187). See Fairmont ZIP 56031 frost dates
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