Lakeville, Minnesota planting calendar and frost dates
Lakeville is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. 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.
- Typical last frost
- May 2
- Typical first frost
- October 5
- Frost-free season
- 155 days
Frost dates in Lakeville
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, 10.2 miles ENE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Lakeville
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, 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
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
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
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: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lakeville
All 3 of Lakeville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 4b in 55044, and 5a in 55024, 55068.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55024 | 5a | Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr, 6.4 mi NNE | May 2 | Oct 5 |
| 55044 | 4b | Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr, 10.2 mi ENE | May 2 | Oct 5 |
| 55068 | 5a | Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr, 2.2 mi SW | May 2 | Oct 5 |
Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr also supplies the frost dates for Apple Valley, so their planting calendars match Lakeville's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lakeville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Jul 6 to Aug 10 |
| Cilantro | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Jan 10 to Feb 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 8 to Apr 5 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 11 to May 2 | Jul 13 to Aug 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 2 to 16 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 20 to Aug 17 |
| Peas | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Jul 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | May 30 to Jun 6 | Jun 27 to Jul 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 24 to Oct 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 24 to Oct 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
Nearby cities
- Apple Valley, MN zone 5a, last frost May 2
- Burnsville, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Eagan, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Bloomington, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Eden Prairie, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Edina, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
Planting in MinnesotaAbout zone 4bPrintable calendar for Lakeville
Questions
When is the last frost in Lakeville?
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 Lakeville in?
USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lakeville?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.
When is the first frost in Lakeville?
Around October 5 in a typical year, and before September 22 about 1 year in 10.