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Fargo, North Dakota planting calendar and frost dates

Fargo is in USDA hardiness zone 4a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 10 and the first fall frost around September 30, giving about 143 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 4a
Typical last frost
May 10
Typical first frost
September 30
Frost-free season
143 days

Frost dates in Fargo

Last spring frost

  • April 27Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • September 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 15Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 143 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 30 and returns around October 10.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fargo Hector International Airport, 3.5 miles NNW 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 Fargo

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  3. March

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

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

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

  5. May

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

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 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, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, 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, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  8. August

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

  9. September

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

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Fargo

All 3 of Fargo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Fargo Hector International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 4a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
581024aFargo Hector International Airport, 3.5 mi NNWMay 10Sep 30
581034aFargo Hector International Airport, 3.5 mi NNWMay 10Sep 30
581044aFargo Hector International Airport, 3.5 mi NNWMay 10Sep 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Fargo

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 30 to Apr 13May 25 to Jun 8—
Strawberries—Mar 29 to Apr 12—
LettuceMar 15 to 29May 3 to 17Jul 1 to Aug 5
CilantroMar 29 to Apr 12May 10 to 17—
BasilApr 6 to 20May 25 to Jun 1—
Potatoes—May 1 to 8—
Garlic—Mar 29 to Apr 12Sep 30 to Oct 14
OnionsJan 18 to Mar 1Apr 12 to 26—
CucumbersApr 27 to May 11May 25 to Jun 8—
PumpkinsApr 27 to May 11May 25 to Jun 8—
PeppersMar 9 to Apr 6May 25 to Jun 8—
Carrots—Apr 19 to May 10Jul 8 to 29
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 8 to 15—
WatermelonsApr 20 to May 4May 25 to Jun 8—
Sweet Corn—May 10 to 24—
Green Beans—May 25 to Jun 8—
ZucchiniApr 27 to May 11May 25 to Jun 8—
BroccoliFeb 22 to Mar 15Apr 12 to 26Jul 15 to Aug 12
Peas—Mar 29 to Apr 12Jul 8 to 22
SpinachMar 29 to Apr 5May 3 to 17Jul 22 to Aug 26
Sunflowers—May 10 to 31—
ZinniasJun 5 to 12Jul 3 to 17—
Tulips——Aug 19 to Oct 14
Daffodils——Aug 19 to Sep 30
Grass Seed—Mar 29 to Apr 12Aug 19 to Sep 2

Nearby cities

Planting in North DakotaAbout zone 4aPrintable calendar for Fargo

Questions

When is the last frost in Fargo?

Around May 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Fargo Hector International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 23.

What planting zone is Fargo in?

USDA hardiness zone 4a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Fargo?

Start seeds indoors March 30 to April 13 and set plants out May 25 to June 8.

When is the first frost in Fargo?

Around September 30 in a typical year, and before September 18 about 1 year in 10.