When to plant basil in Minnesota

Basil
Plant out in Minneapolis
Apr 30–May 14

Across Minnesota the window opens between April 28 and May 21. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Minneapolis
Mar 12–Mar 26
Plant out, Minneapolis
Apr 30–May 14
Sow outdoors, Minneapolis
Apr 30–May 14
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 19
Last frost, Minneapolis
Apr 23

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MinneapolisApr 30–May 14
St. PaulMay 1–May 15
RochesterMay 7–May 21
BloomingtonApr 30–May 14
DuluthMay 21–Jun 4
Brooklyn ParkMay 7–May 21
WoodburyMay 3–May 17
LakevilleMay 4–May 18
PlymouthMay 6–May 20
BlaineMay 12–May 26
Maple GroveMay 7–May 21
St. CloudMay 14–May 28
EaganApr 30–May 14
BurnsvilleMay 4–May 18
Coon RapidsMay 12–May 26
Eden PrairieApr 30–May 14
Apple ValleyMay 9–May 23
EdinaApr 30–May 14
MinnetonkaMay 6–May 20
St. Louis ParkMay 6–May 20
ShakopeeApr 30–May 14
MoorheadMay 12–May 26
MankatoMay 7–May 21
Cottage GroveApr 30–May 14
MaplewoodApr 30–May 14
Inver Grove HeightsMay 1–May 15
RichfieldApr 30–May 14
RosevilleMay 5–May 19
AndoverMay 12–May 26
SavageApr 30–May 14
All 61 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
MinneapolisMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
St. PaulMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
RochesterMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
BloomingtonMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
DuluthApr 2 to Apr 16May 21 to Jun 4May 21 to Jun 4May 14
Brooklyn ParkMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
WoodburyMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
LakevilleMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
PlymouthMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
BlaineMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
Maple GroveMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
St. CloudMar 26 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28May 7
EaganMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
BurnsvilleMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
Coon RapidsMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
Eden PrairieMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Apple ValleyMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
EdinaMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MinnetonkaMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
St. Louis ParkMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
ShakopeeMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MoorheadMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
MankatoMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
Cottage GroveMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MaplewoodMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Inver Grove HeightsMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
RichfieldMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
RosevilleMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
AndoverMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
SavageMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
RosemountMar 21 to Apr 4May 9 to May 23May 9 to May 23May 2
Brooklyn CenterMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
FridleyMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
OakdaleMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
ChaskaMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
RamseyMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
Prior LakeMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Elk RiverMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
ShoreviewMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
AustinMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
OwatonnaMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
WinonaMar 10 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 21
ChanhassenMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
FarmingtonMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
FaribaultMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
OtsegoMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
White Bear LakeMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Lino LakesMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
ChamplinMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
HastingsMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
St. MichaelMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
Columbia HeightsMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
CrystalMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
New BrightonMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
WillmarMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
NorthfieldMar 24 to Apr 7May 12 to May 26May 12 to May 26May 5
West St. PaulMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
Golden ValleyMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
Forest LakeMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
New HopeMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to May 20May 6 to May 20Apr 29
South St. PaulMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant basil in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, plant out from April 30 to May 14. Across Minnesota the window opens between April 28 and May 21, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Minnesota

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota