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When to plant peppers in zone 5a

In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, start peppers indoors March 7 to April 4 and plant out May 23 to June 6.

The zone 5a schedule for peppers

Start seeds indoors
March 7 to April 4
Plant out
May 23 to June 6
Sow outdoors
May 23 to 30
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
May 23
First harvest, roughly
July 27 to August 30

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,200 ZIP codes in zone 5a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peppers.

Frost risk in zone 5a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 27 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 25 to October 13. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 3Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Peppers are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.

Your dates for peppers

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant peppers where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Peppers in zone 5a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Minneapolis, MNApr 23Mar 3 to 31May 19 to Jun 2
St. Paul, MNApr 23Mar 3 to 31May 19 to Jun 2
Anchorage, AKMay 5Feb 24 to Mar 24May 12 to 26
Sioux Falls, SDMay 1Mar 2 to 30May 18 to Jun 1
Cedar Rapids, IAApr 28Feb 23 to Mar 23May 11 to 25
Billings, MTMay 10Mar 17 to Apr 14Jun 2 to 16
Bloomington, MNApr 23Mar 1 to 29May 17 to 31
Sioux City, IAApr 29Feb 27 to Mar 27May 15 to 29
Brooklyn Park, MNApr 30Mar 5 to Apr 2May 21 to Jun 4
Woodbury, MNApr 24Mar 3 to 31May 19 to Jun 2
Plymouth, MNApr 29Mar 5 to Apr 2May 21 to Jun 4
Blaine, MNApr 30Mar 5 to Apr 2May 21 to Jun 4

How to grow peppersAll zonesPeppers in zone 4bPeppers in zone 5bAbout zone 5a

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