Rochester, Minnesota planting calendar and frost dates
Rochester is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 6, giving about 159 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 4b
- Typical last frost
- April 30
- Typical first frost
- October 6
- Frost-free season
- 159 days
Frost dates in Rochester
Last spring frost
- April 15Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 22Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 20Late: 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 18 and returns around October 17.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rochester International Airport, 8.2 miles S of the city center and 280 feet higher. 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 Rochester
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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, 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
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: 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 Rochester
All 4 of Rochester's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Rochester International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 4b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55901 | 4b | Rochester International Airport, 8.2 mi S | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| 55902 | 4b | Rochester International Airport, 8.2 mi S | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| 55904 | 4b | Rochester International Airport, 8.2 mi S | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| 55906 | 4b | Rochester International Airport, 8.2 mi S | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Rochester
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 7 to Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Basil | Apr 4 to 18 | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Jan 8 to Feb 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 30 to Jun 6 | Jun 27 to Jul 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
Nearby cities
- Lakeville, MN zone 4b, last frost May 2
- Apple Valley, MN zone 5a, last frost May 2
- La Crosse, WI zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Eagan, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Burnsville, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Woodbury, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 24
Planting in MinnesotaAbout zone 4bPrintable calendar for Rochester
Questions
When is the last frost in Rochester?
Around April 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Rochester International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 13.
What planting zone is Rochester in?
USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Rochester?
Start seeds indoors March 28 to April 11 and set plants out May 23 to June 6.
When is the first frost in Rochester?
Around October 6 in a typical year, and before September 22 about 1 year in 10.