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When to plant tomatoes in zone 5a

In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, start tomatoes indoors March 28 to April 11 and plant out May 23 to June 6.

The zone 5a schedule for tomatoes

Start seeds indoors
March 28 to April 11
Plant out
May 23 to June 6
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
May 23
First harvest, roughly
July 14 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 tomatoes.

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

Tomatoes 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 tomatoes

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant tomatoes 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

Tomatoes in zone 5a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Minneapolis, MNApr 23Mar 24 to Apr 7May 19 to Jun 2
St. Paul, MNApr 23Mar 24 to Apr 7May 19 to Jun 2
Anchorage, AKMay 5Mar 10 to 24May 5 to 19
Sioux Falls, SDMay 1Mar 23 to Apr 6May 18 to Jun 1
Cedar Rapids, IAApr 28Mar 16 to 30May 11 to 25
Billings, MTMay 10Apr 7 to 21Jun 2 to 16
Bloomington, MNApr 23Mar 22 to Apr 5May 17 to 31
Sioux City, IAApr 29Mar 20 to Apr 3May 15 to 29
Brooklyn Park, MNApr 30Mar 26 to Apr 9May 21 to Jun 4
Woodbury, MNApr 24Mar 24 to Apr 7May 19 to Jun 2
Plymouth, MNApr 29Mar 26 to Apr 9May 21 to Jun 4
Blaine, MNApr 30Mar 26 to Apr 9May 21 to Jun 4

How to grow tomatoesAll zonesTomatoes in zone 4bTomatoes in zone 5bAbout zone 5a

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