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
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
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
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
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
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
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
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
September
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Fargo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 15 to 29 | May 3 to 17 | Jul 1 to Aug 5 |
| Cilantro | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Apr 6 to 20 | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Sep 30 to Oct 14 |
| Onions | Jan 18 to Mar 1 | Apr 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 9 to Apr 6 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | Jul 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 22 to Mar 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 15 to Aug 12 |
| Peas | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Jul 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | May 3 to 17 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 10 to 31 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 5 to 12 | Jul 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 19 to Oct 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 19 to Sep 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 19 to Sep 2 |
Nearby cities
- Grand Forks, ND zone 4a, last frost May 10
- St. Cloud, MN zone 4b, last frost May 7
- Bismarck, ND zone 4a, last frost May 14
- Maple Grove, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 30
- Coon Rapids, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 30
- Plymouth, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 29
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.