Blaine, Minnesota planting calendar and frost dates
Blaine is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 159 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5a
- Typical last frost
- April 30
- Typical first frost
- October 8
- Frost-free season
- 159 days
Frost dates in Blaine
Last spring frost
- April 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 159 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 20 and returns around October 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mpls Crystal Airport, 11.3 miles SW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Blaine shares this station with Brooklyn Park, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Blaine
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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
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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
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
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
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
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Blaine
Blaine's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 23 in 55014 to April 30 in 55449. Every one of them is in zone 5a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55014 | 5a | Vadnais Lake, 8.4 mi S | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 55434 | 5a | Mpls Crystal Airport, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
| 55449 | 5a | Mpls Crystal Airport, 11.3 mi SW | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
Mpls Crystal Airport also supplies the frost dates for Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove and Coon Rapids, so their planting calendars match Blaine's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Blaine
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 9 to Aug 13 |
| Cilantro | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Jan 8 to Feb 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 5 to Apr 2 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 23 to Aug 20 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 24 to 31 | Jun 21 to Jul 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 27 to Oct 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 27 to Oct 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
Nearby cities
- Coon Rapids, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 30
- Brooklyn Park, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 30
- Maple Grove, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 30
- Minneapolis, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- St. Paul, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Plymouth, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 29
Planting in MinnesotaAbout zone 5aPrintable calendar for Blaine
Questions
When is the last frost in Blaine?
Around April 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Mpls Crystal Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 17.
What planting zone is Blaine 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 Blaine?
Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.
When is the first frost in Blaine?
Around October 8 in a typical year, and before September 26 about 1 year in 10.