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Planting forecast · East Bethel, MN
Is it safe to plant yet?
We check this week’s overnight lows from the National Weather Service against what each kind of plant can take, so you know what can go in the ground now and what should wait. Live from mid-April to mid-June, and updated every hour.
Checking this week’s forecast…
How we decide
It comes down to how cold the nights get. Frost is the obvious danger, but warm-season plants get set back by cold nights well above freezing — tomatoes stall and drop blossoms below 50°F, and basil turns black. So each kind of plant gets a yes only when every night in the forecast is warm enough for it, and a “wait until” when the cold nights end within the week.
| Plant | Happy when nights stay |
|---|---|
| Pansies, lettuce, kale, peas & onions | above 28°F |
| Perennials & shrubs | above 28°F |
| Petunias, geraniums, baskets & most annuals | above 36°F (no frost) |
| Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers & beans | 50°F or warmer |
| Peppers, eggplant, basil & coleus | 55°F or warmer |
Before you plant
- Give plants from a greenhouse a few days to harden off first, or they’ll sunburn and sulk.
- Tomatoes also want 60°F soil. The tomato guide has the whole story.
- Already planted and frost is coming? Cover tender plants with sheets or frost cloth before dark — never bare plastic touching the leaves.
- For month-by-month timing, see the Minnesota planting calendar.