When to plant pumpkins in zone 5a
In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, start pumpkins indoors April 25 to May 9 and plant out May 23 to June 6.
The zone 5a schedule for pumpkins
- Start seeds indoors
- April 25 to May 9
- Plant out
- May 23 to June 6
- Sow outdoors
- May 23 to June 6
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- May 23
- First harvest, roughly
- August 1 to September 4
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 pumpkins.
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
Pumpkins 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 pumpkins
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant pumpkins where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Pumpkins in zone 5a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 |
| St. Paul, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 |
| Anchorage, AK | May 5 | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | May 1 | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Apr 28 | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 |
| Billings, MT | May 10 | May 5 to 19 | Jun 2 to 16 |
| Bloomington, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 17 to 31 |
| Sioux City, IA | Apr 29 | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | Apr 30 | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 |
| Woodbury, MN | Apr 24 | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 |
| Plymouth, MN | Apr 29 | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 |
| Blaine, MN | Apr 30 | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 |
How to grow pumpkinsAll zonesPumpkins in zone 4bPumpkins in zone 5bAbout zone 5a
Sources
- How to Grow Pumpkins in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- All about Pumpkins · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Pumpkins & Winter Squash (HGIC 1318) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Pumpkin and Squash Harvest and Storage · University of Vermont Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720) · Colorado State University Extension
- Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, and Melons (Fact Sheet 7.609) · Colorado State University Extension
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021), Table 1 · University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension