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When to plant tulips in zone 5a

In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, plant August 23 to October 18.

The zone 5a schedule for tulips

Plant for a fall crop
August 23 to October 18

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 tulips.

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

Your dates for tulips

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

Tulips in zone 5a cities

CityTypical last frostPlantFall
Minneapolis, MNApr 23—Sep 4 to Oct 30
St. Paul, MNApr 23—Sep 4 to Oct 30
Anchorage, AKMay 5—Aug 20 to Oct 15
Sioux Falls, SDMay 1—Aug 25 to Oct 20
Cedar Rapids, IAApr 28—Aug 31 to Oct 26
Billings, MTMay 10—Aug 20 to Oct 15
Bloomington, MNApr 23—Sep 2 to Oct 28
Sioux City, IAApr 29—Aug 24 to Oct 19
Brooklyn Park, MNApr 30—Aug 27 to Oct 22
Woodbury, MNApr 24—Sep 4 to Oct 30
Plymouth, MNApr 29—Aug 31 to Oct 26
Blaine, MNApr 30—Aug 27 to Oct 22

How to grow tulipsAll zonesTulips in zone 4bTulips in zone 5bAbout zone 5a

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