When to plant butternut squash in Minnesota

Butternut squash
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Minneapolis
Apr 30–May 14
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 14
Last frost, Minneapolis
Apr 23

Sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Leave fruit on the vine until the skin is hard and the stem starts to dry.

Butternut squash 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
MinneapolisApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
St. PaulMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
RochesterMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
BloomingtonApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
DuluthMay 21 to Jun 4May 14
Brooklyn ParkMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
WoodburyMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
LakevilleMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
PlymouthMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
BlaineMay 12 to May 26May 5
Maple GroveMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
St. CloudMay 14 to May 28May 7
EaganApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
BurnsvilleMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
Coon RapidsMay 12 to May 26May 5
Eden PrairieApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Apple ValleyMay 9 to May 23May 2
EdinaApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MinnetonkaMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
St. Louis ParkMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
ShakopeeApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MoorheadMay 12 to May 26May 5
MankatoMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
Cottage GroveApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
MaplewoodApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Inver Grove HeightsMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
RichfieldApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
RosevilleMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
AndoverMay 12 to May 26May 5
SavageApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
RosemountMay 9 to May 23May 2
Brooklyn CenterMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
FridleyMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
OakdaleMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
ChaskaMay 12 to May 26May 5
RamseyMay 11 to May 25May 4
Prior LakeApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Elk RiverMay 11 to May 25May 4
ShoreviewApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
AustinMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
OwatonnaMay 12 to May 26May 5
WinonaApr 28 to May 12Apr 21
ChanhassenMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
FarmingtonMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
FaribaultMay 12 to May 26May 5
OtsegoMay 11 to May 25May 4
White Bear LakeApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
Lino LakesApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
ChamplinMay 12 to May 26May 5
HastingsApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
St. MichaelMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
Columbia HeightsApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
CrystalMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
New BrightonMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
WillmarMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
NorthfieldMay 12 to May 26May 5
West St. PaulMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
Golden ValleyMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
Forest LakeMay 10 to May 24May 3
New HopeMay 6 to May 20Apr 29
South St. PaulMay 1 to May 15Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant butternut squash in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, sow outdoors 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?

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

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota