Minnesota & seasons
Last frost dates for East Bethel and the north metro
Around East Bethel the last spring freeze (32°F) comes about May 1 in a typical year, and one year in ten it freezes after May 17. The first fall freeze lands about October 7. Closer to the cities it is a week or two milder; north toward Cambridge and St. Cloud, a week later. Plant hardy things from mid-April and tender things around Memorial Day, and check our live Is it safe to plant yet? page before you do.
“Last frost date” sounds like a single day, but it is an average with a wide spread. The numbers below are the 1991–2020 normals from the Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office, by weather station. Normal is the median: half of years the last freeze is earlier, half later. The one-in-ten date is the one to plan tender plants around.
Frost dates for the north metro and nearby towns
| Station (use it for) | Last spring freeze, 32°F | One year in ten, after | First fall freeze, 32°F | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar / Oak GroveEast Bethel, Ham Lake, Andover, Blaine, Anoka | Last spring freeze, 32°FMay 1 | One year in ten, afterMay 17 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 7 | Frost-free days158 |
| CambridgeIsanti County, North Branch | Last spring freeze, 32°FMay 2 | One year in ten, afterMay 20 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 4 | Frost-free days153 |
| Forest LakeForest Lake, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Wyoming | Last spring freeze, 32°FMay 3 | One year in ten, afterMay 19 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 5 | Frost-free days154 |
| Elk RiverElk River, Otsego, Ramsey, Zimmerman | Last spring freeze, 32°FMay 4 | One year in ten, afterMay 18 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 5 | Frost-free days154 |
| BuffaloWright County, Monticello, Rogers | Last spring freeze, 32°FApr 30 | One year in ten, afterMay 13 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 9 | Frost-free days163 |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul airportThe core cities, Roseville, Fridley, Coon Rapids | Last spring freeze, 32°FApr 23 | One year in ten, afterMay 7 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 18 | Frost-free days176 |
| StillwaterSt. Croix valley, Hudson | Last spring freeze, 32°FApr 22 | One year in ten, afterMay 6 | First fall freeze, 32°FOct 19 | Frost-free days178 |
| St. CloudBig Lake, Becker, Princeton | Last spring freeze, 32°FMay 7 | One year in ten, afterMay 23 | First fall freeze, 32°FSep 30 | Frost-free days144 |
Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office, NCEI 1991–2020 freeze normals. “Last spring freeze” and “first fall freeze” are the 50% (median) dates for 32°F.
Notice the pattern: the cities are an urban heat island, and anything north of Highway 10 runs a week or two colder. If you garden in Blaine, Ham Lake, Andover or East Bethel, use the Cedar row, not the airport’s.
Hard freeze dates (28°F)
A hard freeze is what actually kills a half-hardy plant. At Cedar, the median last 28°F night is April 20, and one spring in ten it comes after May 3. The first fall hard freeze is about October 19. That is the window the hardy annuals and cool-season vegetables care about, which is why mid-April planting works for them.
What to plant when
| Window around East Bethel | Safe to plant | Still risky |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Aprilafter the 28°F risk mostly passes | Safe to plantPansies, violas, snapdragons, stock, dusty miller, flowering kale; peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onions, potatoes; broccoli and cabbage transplants; perennials and shrubs | Still riskyEverything tender |
| Late April – early May | Safe to plantAlyssum, dianthus, osteospermum, nemesia, lobelia; carrots and beets; petunias and geraniums if you will cover them | Still riskyImpatiens, vinca, coleus, tomatoes |
| Mid-Maytypical last frost has passed | Safe to plantPetunias, calibrachoa, geraniums, verbena, hanging baskets (with a sheet ready); beans and corn once soil is 60°F | Still riskyVinca, zinnias, basil, peppers — they stall in cold soil even without frost |
| Memorial Day weekendthe one-in-ten date has passed | Safe to plantEverything: impatiens, begonias, coleus, vinca, zinnias, marigolds, celosia, sweet potato vine, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, melons | Still risky— |
Frost vs. freeze vs. hard freeze
Forecasts report the air temperature at about 5 feet. On a still, clear night the ground and your plants’ leaves can be 3 to 5 degrees colder, so frost can form when the forecast says 34°F. Wind and clouds prevent that; calm and clear invite it. A freeze is 32°F in the air and damages tender plants; a hard freeze at 28°F kills them and injures half-hardy ones. Our frost alerts watch the National Weather Service forecast for East Bethel and email you on afternoons when any of the three is coming.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Minnesota?
It depends where you are. In the north metro, the median last 32°F freeze is about May 1 (Cedar, in Oak Grove, a few miles from East Bethel); at the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport it is April 23; at St. Cloud it is May 7. One spring in ten, the north metro freezes after May 17. Figures are 1991–2020 normals from the Minnesota DNR.
Can I plant before the last frost date?
Yes, if you plant the right things. Hardy annuals and cool-season vegetables (pansies, snapdragons, peas, lettuce, onions, broccoli) go in from mid-April and take frost in stride. Tender plants (tomatoes, peppers, impatiens, vinca, zinnias) wait until the risk is nearly gone, around Memorial Day here.
What is the difference between frost and a freeze?
Frost can form on leaves when the air at 5 feet reads 33–36°F on a still, clear night, because the ground gets colder than the thermometer. A freeze is 32°F or below; a hard freeze is 28°F or below and kills tender plants outright. Forecasts usually give the air temperature, so add a margin.
When is the first frost in the fall in Minnesota?
Around East Bethel the median first 32°F night is about October 7, and one fall in ten it comes by September 20. The Twin Cities core usually goes until mid-to-late October. That gives the north metro roughly 150 to 160 frost-free days.