When to plant tomatoes in Minnesota

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: Feb 26–Mar 12
Plant out, Minneapolis: Apr 30–May 14
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 9
Last frost, Minneapolis: Apr 23

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes 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

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Minneapolis	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
St. Paul	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Rochester	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Bloomington	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Duluth	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 21 to Jun 4	May 14
Brooklyn Park	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Woodbury	Mar 1 to Mar 15	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Lakeville	Mar 2 to Mar 16	May 4 to May 18	Apr 27
Plymouth	Mar 4 to Mar 18	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Blaine	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Maple Grove	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
St. Cloud	Mar 12 to Mar 26	May 14 to May 28	May 7
Eagan	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Burnsville	Mar 2 to Mar 16	May 4 to May 18	Apr 27
Coon Rapids	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Eden Prairie	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Apple Valley	Mar 7 to Mar 21	May 9 to May 23	May 2
Edina	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Minnetonka	Mar 4 to Mar 18	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
St. Louis Park	Mar 4 to Mar 18	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Shakopee	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Moorhead	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Mankato	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Cottage Grove	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Maplewood	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Inver Grove Heights	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Richfield	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Roseville	Mar 3 to Mar 17	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Andover	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Savage	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Rosemount	Mar 7 to Mar 21	May 9 to May 23	May 2
Brooklyn Center	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Fridley	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Oakdale	Mar 1 to Mar 15	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Chaska	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Ramsey	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 11 to May 25	May 4
Prior Lake	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Elk River	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 11 to May 25	May 4
Shoreview	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Austin	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Owatonna	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Winona	Feb 24 to Mar 10	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 21
Chanhassen	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Farmington	Mar 2 to Mar 16	May 4 to May 18	Apr 27
Faribault	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Otsego	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 11 to May 25	May 4
White Bear Lake	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Lino Lakes	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Champlin	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
Hastings	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
St. Michael	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Columbia Heights	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Crystal	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
New Brighton	Mar 3 to Mar 17	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Willmar	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Northfield	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 12 to May 26	May 5
West St. Paul	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Golden Valley	Mar 4 to Mar 18	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Forest Lake	Mar 8 to Mar 22	May 10 to May 24	May 3
New Hope	Mar 4 to Mar 18	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
South St. Paul	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes 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 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Minnesota

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Minnesota