When to plant sunflowers in Minnesota

Sunflowers
Sow outdoors in Minneapolis
Apr 23–May 14

Across Minnesota the window opens between April 21 and May 14. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Minneapolis
Apr 23–May 14
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 24
Last frost, Minneapolis
Apr 23

Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Sow every two weeks until midsummer for flowers through fall.

Sunflowers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MinneapolisApr 23–May 14
St. PaulApr 24–May 15
RochesterApr 30–May 21
BloomingtonApr 23–May 14
DuluthMay 14–Jun 4
Brooklyn ParkApr 30–May 21
WoodburyApr 26–May 17
LakevilleApr 27–May 18
PlymouthApr 29–May 20
BlaineMay 5–May 26
Maple GroveApr 30–May 21
St. CloudMay 7–May 28
EaganApr 23–May 14
BurnsvilleApr 27–May 18
Coon RapidsMay 5–May 26
Eden PrairieApr 23–May 14
Apple ValleyMay 2–May 23
EdinaApr 23–May 14
MinnetonkaApr 29–May 20
St. Louis ParkApr 29–May 20
ShakopeeApr 23–May 14
MoorheadMay 5–May 26
MankatoApr 30–May 21
Cottage GroveApr 23–May 14
MaplewoodApr 23–May 14
Inver Grove HeightsApr 24–May 15
RichfieldApr 23–May 14
RosevilleApr 28–May 19
AndoverMay 5–May 26
SavageApr 23–May 14
All 61 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
MinneapolisApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
St. PaulApr 24 to May 15Apr 24
RochesterApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
BloomingtonApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
DuluthMay 14 to Jun 4May 14
Brooklyn ParkApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
WoodburyApr 26 to May 17Apr 26
LakevilleApr 27 to May 18Apr 27
PlymouthApr 29 to May 20Apr 29
BlaineMay 5 to May 26May 5
Maple GroveApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
St. CloudMay 7 to May 28May 7
EaganApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
BurnsvilleApr 27 to May 18Apr 27
Coon RapidsMay 5 to May 26May 5
Eden PrairieApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
Apple ValleyMay 2 to May 23May 2
EdinaApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
MinnetonkaApr 29 to May 20Apr 29
St. Louis ParkApr 29 to May 20Apr 29
ShakopeeApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
MoorheadMay 5 to May 26May 5
MankatoApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
Cottage GroveApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
MaplewoodApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
Inver Grove HeightsApr 24 to May 15Apr 24
RichfieldApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
RosevilleApr 28 to May 19Apr 28
AndoverMay 5 to May 26May 5
SavageApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
RosemountMay 2 to May 23May 2
Brooklyn CenterApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
FridleyApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
OakdaleApr 26 to May 17Apr 26
ChaskaMay 5 to May 26May 5
RamseyMay 4 to May 25May 4
Prior LakeApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
Elk RiverMay 4 to May 25May 4
ShoreviewApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
AustinApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
OwatonnaMay 5 to May 26May 5
WinonaApr 21 to May 12Apr 21
ChanhassenApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
FarmingtonApr 27 to May 18Apr 27
FaribaultMay 5 to May 26May 5
OtsegoMay 4 to May 25May 4
White Bear LakeApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
Lino LakesApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
ChamplinMay 5 to May 26May 5
HastingsApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
St. MichaelApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
Columbia HeightsApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
CrystalApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
New BrightonApr 28 to May 19Apr 28
WillmarApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
NorthfieldMay 5 to May 26May 5
West St. PaulApr 24 to May 15Apr 24
Golden ValleyApr 29 to May 20Apr 29
Forest LakeMay 3 to May 24May 3
New HopeApr 29 to May 20Apr 29
South St. PaulApr 24 to May 15Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant sunflowers in Minnesota?

In Minneapolis, sow outdoors from April 23 to May 14. Across Minnesota the window opens between April 21 and May 14, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Minnesota

Sunflowers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota