Woodbury, Minnesota planting calendar and frost dates
Woodbury is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 16, giving about 174 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5a
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 16
- Frost-free season
- 174 days
Frost dates in Woodbury
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 16Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 29Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 174 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 13 and returns around October 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for St Paul Downtown Airport, 8.7 miles WNW of the city center and 264 feet lower. 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 Woodbury
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
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, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, 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, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Woodbury
All 2 of Woodbury's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from St Paul Downtown Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Woodbury
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 17 to Aug 21 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 16 to 30 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 3 to 31 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 24 to Aug 14 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 14 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 7 to Sep 11 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 22 to 29 | Jun 19 to Jul 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 4 to Oct 30 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 4 to Oct 16 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 4 to 18 |
Nearby cities
- St. Paul, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Eagan, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Minneapolis, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Apple Valley, MN zone 5a, last frost May 2
- Bloomington, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Burnsville, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
Planting in MinnesotaAbout zone 5aPrintable calendar for Woodbury
Questions
When is the last frost in Woodbury?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for St Paul Downtown Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 10.
What planting zone is Woodbury 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 Woodbury?
Start seeds indoors March 24 to April 7 and set plants out May 19 to June 2.
When is the first frost in Woodbury?
Around October 16 in a typical year, and before October 2 about 1 year in 10.