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Apple Valley, Minnesota planting calendar and frost dates

Apple Valley is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 2 and the first fall frost around October 5, giving about 155 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 5a
Typical last frost
May 2
Typical first frost
October 5
Frost-free season
155 days

Frost dates in Apple Valley

Last spring frost

  • April 19Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 22Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 5Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 19Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 155 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 22 and returns around October 17.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr, 5.4 miles ESE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Apple Valley shares this station with Lakeville, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.

What to plant each month in Apple Valley

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  5. May

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Planting dates for popular crops in Apple Valley

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 29 to Apr 12May 24 to Jun 7—
Strawberries—Mar 21 to Apr 4—
LettuceMar 7 to 21Apr 25 to May 9Jul 6 to Aug 10
CilantroMar 21 to Apr 4May 2 to 9—
BasilApr 5 to 19May 24 to 31—
Potatoes—Apr 28 to May 5—
Garlic—Mar 21 to Apr 4Oct 5 to 19
OnionsJan 10 to Feb 21Apr 4 to 18—
CucumbersApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
PumpkinsApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
PeppersMar 8 to Apr 5May 24 to Jun 7—
Carrots—Apr 11 to May 2Jul 13 to Aug 3
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 8 to 15—
WatermelonsApr 19 to May 3May 24 to Jun 7—
Sweet Corn—May 2 to 16—
Green Beans—May 24 to Jun 7—
ZucchiniApr 26 to May 10May 24 to Jun 7—
BroccoliFeb 14 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 18Jul 20 to Aug 17
Peas—Mar 21 to Apr 4Jul 13 to 27
SpinachMar 21 to 28Apr 25 to May 9Jul 27 to Aug 31
Sunflowers—May 2 to 23—
ZinniasMay 30 to Jun 6Jun 27 to Jul 11—
Tulips——Aug 24 to Oct 19
Daffodils——Aug 24 to Oct 5
Grass Seed—Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 24 to Sep 7

Nearby cities

Planting in MinnesotaAbout zone 5aPrintable calendar for Apple Valley

Questions

When is the last frost in Apple Valley?

Around May 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 16.

What planting zone is Apple Valley in?

USDA hardiness zone 5a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Apple Valley?

Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.

When is the first frost in Apple Valley?

Around October 5 in a typical year, and before September 22 about 1 year in 10.