When to plant onions in Minnesota

Plant out in Minneapolis

Mar 12–Apr 2

Across Minnesota the window opens between March 10 and April 2. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Minneapolis: Jan 29–Feb 26
Plant out, Minneapolis: Mar 12–Apr 2
Last frost, Minneapolis: Apr 23

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Northern gardens need long-day varieties and southern gardens need short-day ones. A wrong pick gives small bulbs.

Onions planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

MinneapolisMar 12–Apr 2

St. PaulMar 13–Apr 3

RochesterMar 19–Apr 9

BloomingtonMar 12–Apr 2

DuluthApr 2–Apr 23

Brooklyn ParkMar 19–Apr 9

WoodburyMar 15–Apr 5

LakevilleMar 16–Apr 6

PlymouthMar 18–Apr 8

BlaineMar 24–Apr 14

Maple GroveMar 19–Apr 9

St. CloudMar 26–Apr 16

EaganMar 12–Apr 2

BurnsvilleMar 16–Apr 6

Coon RapidsMar 24–Apr 14

Eden PrairieMar 12–Apr 2

Apple ValleyMar 21–Apr 11

EdinaMar 12–Apr 2

MinnetonkaMar 18–Apr 8

St. Louis ParkMar 18–Apr 8

ShakopeeMar 12–Apr 2

MoorheadMar 24–Apr 14

MankatoMar 19–Apr 9

Cottage GroveMar 12–Apr 2

MaplewoodMar 12–Apr 2

Inver Grove HeightsMar 13–Apr 3

RichfieldMar 12–Apr 2

RosevilleMar 17–Apr 7

AndoverMar 24–Apr 14

SavageMar 12–Apr 2

All 61 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Minneapolis	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
St. Paul	Jan 30 to Feb 27	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Apr 24
Rochester	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Bloomington	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Duluth	Feb 19 to Mar 19	Apr 2 to Apr 23	May 14
Brooklyn Park	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Woodbury	Feb 1 to Mar 1	Mar 15 to Apr 5	Apr 26
Lakeville	Feb 2 to Mar 2	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Apr 27
Plymouth	Feb 4 to Mar 4	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Apr 29
Blaine	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Maple Grove	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
St. Cloud	Feb 12 to Mar 12	Mar 26 to Apr 16	May 7
Eagan	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Burnsville	Feb 2 to Mar 2	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Apr 27
Coon Rapids	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Eden Prairie	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Apple Valley	Feb 7 to Mar 7	Mar 21 to Apr 11	May 2
Edina	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Minnetonka	Feb 4 to Mar 4	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Apr 29
St. Louis Park	Feb 4 to Mar 4	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Apr 29
Shakopee	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Moorhead	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Mankato	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Cottage Grove	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Maplewood	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Inver Grove Heights	Jan 30 to Feb 27	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Apr 24
Richfield	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Roseville	Feb 3 to Mar 3	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Apr 28
Andover	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Savage	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Rosemount	Feb 7 to Mar 7	Mar 21 to Apr 11	May 2
Brooklyn Center	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Fridley	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Oakdale	Feb 1 to Mar 1	Mar 15 to Apr 5	Apr 26
Chaska	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Ramsey	Feb 9 to Mar 9	Mar 23 to Apr 13	May 4
Prior Lake	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Elk River	Feb 9 to Mar 9	Mar 23 to Apr 13	May 4
Shoreview	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Austin	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Owatonna	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Winona	Jan 27 to Feb 24	Mar 10 to Mar 31	Apr 21
Chanhassen	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Farmington	Feb 2 to Mar 2	Mar 16 to Apr 6	Apr 27
Faribault	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Otsego	Feb 9 to Mar 9	Mar 23 to Apr 13	May 4
White Bear Lake	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Lino Lakes	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Champlin	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
Hastings	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
St. Michael	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Columbia Heights	Jan 29 to Feb 26	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Apr 23
Crystal	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
New Brighton	Feb 3 to Mar 3	Mar 17 to Apr 7	Apr 28
Willmar	Feb 5 to Mar 5	Mar 19 to Apr 9	Apr 30
Northfield	Feb 10 to Mar 10	Mar 24 to Apr 14	May 5
West St. Paul	Jan 30 to Feb 27	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Apr 24
Golden Valley	Feb 4 to Mar 4	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Apr 29
Forest Lake	Feb 8 to Mar 8	Mar 22 to Apr 12	May 3
New Hope	Feb 4 to Mar 4	Mar 18 to Apr 8	Apr 29
South St. Paul	Jan 30 to Feb 27	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant onions in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, plant out from March 12 to April 2. Across Minnesota the window opens between March 10 and April 2, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Minnesota

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota