Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Saint Paul, MN

Saint Paul, MN is in USDA zone 5a across its 36 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 16.

Saint Paul on the zone map

Outlined: its 30 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes36
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 16
Growing season174 days

5a 36 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Saint Paul, MN…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Saint Paul, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station St Paul Downtown Airport, MN, elevation 699 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Saint Paul

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 16) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 55101 came on Mar 30 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5a in Minnesota

521 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 47

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °F

Shrubs 92

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 201

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 164

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbasin wildrye5 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Saint Paul, MN.

Soil in Saint Paul, MN

The center of ZIP 55101 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 55101; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Paul, MN

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,831base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 24 °F, low 9 °F 24°9° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 62 °F 80°62° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 15 °F 29°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 AprMay: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 NovDecember: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: St Paul Downtown Airport, MN (2 mi away); precipitation: St Paul Downtown Airport, MN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Saint Paul

551015a
−20 to −15 °F
551025a
−20 to −15 °F
551035a
−20 to −15 °F
551045a
−20 to −15 °F
551055a
−20 to −15 °F
551065a
−20 to −15 °F
551075a
−20 to −15 °F
551085a
−20 to −15 °F
551095a
−20 to −15 °F
551105a
−20 to −15 °F
551115a
−20 to −15 °F
551125a
−20 to −15 °F
551135a
−20 to −15 °F
551145a
−20 to −15 °F
551155a
−20 to −15 °F
551165a
−20 to −15 °F
551175a
−20 to −15 °F
551185a
−20 to −15 °F
551195a
−20 to −15 °F
551205a
−20 to −15 °F
551215a
−20 to −15 °F
551225a
−20 to −15 °F
551235a
−20 to −15 °F
551245a
−20 to −15 °F
551255a
−20 to −15 °F
551265a
−20 to −15 °F
551275a
−20 to −15 °F
551285a
−20 to −15 °F
551295a
−20 to −15 °F
551305a
−20 to −15 °F
551315a
−20 to −15 °F
551335a
−20 to −15 °F
551455a
−20 to −15 °F
551465a
−20 to −15 °F
551645a
−20 to −15 °F
551705a
−20 to −15 °F

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about Saint Paul

What planting zone is Saint Paul, MN?

Saint Paul, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Saint Paul, MN?

The median last spring frost is April 24 and the median first fall frost is October 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St Paul Downtown Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Saint Paul, MN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 13 – Apr 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 1, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Paul, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Saint Paul, MN get?

About 29.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).