Upper Midwest Vegetable Planting Calendar (MN, ND, SD): What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for the Upper Midwest & Northern Plains. 162 crops with sow windows for a cold continental, short season climate.
This is our Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable planting calendar for Minnesota, the Dakotas and their northern neighbors. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in the Upper Midwest, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is cold continental, with a short season, across USDA zones 3b to 5a. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by ZIP code and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. This is a first-pass calendar built from regional extension guidance and under local review, so treat it as a strong first draft.
Monthly Planting Calendar
The Upper Midwest and Northern Plains (Minnesota, the Dakotas and northern neighbors, USDA 3b-5a) have long, cold winters and a short, warm summer of roughly 120-150 frost-free days. Almost everything goes in across a tight spring-to-midsummer window: hardy crops in late April to May, tender crops after the mid-to-late May last frost. Garlic is planted in fall. Last frost is typically mid-to-late May and the first fall frost around late September. These windows are a first-pass estimate from regional extension guidance and are being reviewed locally.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for the Upper Midwest
Every vegetable in our Upper Midwest & Northern Plains calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit and flowers.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| February | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| March | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| April | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Parsnip, Peas, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 47 |
| May | Amaranth, Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Brazilian Spinach, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Onion, Parsnip, Peanuts, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorghum, Sorrel, Southern Peas, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 81 |
| June | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Celeriac, Celery, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Onion, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Rutabaga, Scarlet Runner Bean, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watermelon, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 34 |
| July | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 35 |
| August | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Green Onion, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 36 |
| September | Garlic | 1 |
| October | Garlic | 1 |
| November | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| December | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in the Upper Midwest. Shaded months are open planting windows, and the last column spells them out. Where our data says a crop is set out as transplants, the window is the transplanting window.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Squash | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Okra | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | May and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Beet | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Onion | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Potato | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Basil | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | Apr to May and Jul to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | May and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | May | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | May to Jun |
Local timing notes for the Upper Midwest
Where timing in the Upper Midwest needs explaining, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the Planting Season app shows for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Strawberry (May): Set out dormant plants in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, so they root well before summer.
Browse by Category
Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in the Upper Midwest
The climate in the Upper Midwest is cold continental, with a short season. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around May 15 and the first fall frost around September 25, which leaves a growing season of about 133 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Frost is local, so here is what the ZIP code records show for a few places across Minnesota, the Dakotas and their northern neighbors:
- Minneapolis (55401): typical last spring frost April 23; typical first fall frost October 16; a growing season of about 175 days.
- Duluth (55802): typical last spring frost May 14; typical first fall frost October 12; a growing season of about 149 days.
- Fargo (58102): typical last spring frost May 10; typical first fall frost September 30; a growing season of about 143 days.
- Sioux Falls (57104): typical last spring frost May 1; typical first fall frost October 6; a growing season of about 157 days.
- Billings (59101): typical last spring frost May 10; typical first fall frost October 1; a growing season of about 142 days.
Enter your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, at the 50 percent probability level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later.
USDA hardiness zones: our Upper Midwest & Northern Plains region spans zones 3b to 5a. Your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and fruit trees survive a normal winter; it does not tell you when to sow, which is why this calendar follows frost dates and summer heat instead. Zone pages: zone 3b, zone 4a, zone 4b, zone 5a.
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Upper Midwest & Northern Plains planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in the Upper Midwest (March to May)
81 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in spring. Planting windows that open: in April, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 37 more; in May, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 24 more.
Summer in the Upper Midwest (June to August)
70 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in summer. Planting windows that open: in June, Celeriac, Celery and Rutabaga; in July, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 24 more; in August, Swiss Chard and Green Onion. Last chance before the season ends: June for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 23 more; July for Rutabaga.
Fall in the Upper Midwest (September to November)
1 vegetable can be sown or planted at some point in fall. Planting windows that open: in September, Garlic. Last chance before the season ends: October for Garlic. Fall is also garlic planting time here; see how to grow garlic.
Winter in the Upper Midwest (December to February)
No vegetables are sown in winter; the ground rests until the next window opens.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
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Open the App →Planting calendars for other US regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own planting windows, frost dates and month pages. For every region side by side, see what vegetables to plant now across the US, or find your region by ZIP code.
- North Florida vegetable planting calendar
North Florida: USDA zones 9a to 9b, frost window February 15 to December 5. - Central Florida vegetable planting calendar
Central Florida: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - South Florida vegetable planting calendar
South Florida: USDA zones 10a to 11a, effectively frost free. - Gulf South vegetable planting calendar
Gulf South: USDA zones 8a to 9b, frost window February 25 to December 1. - Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar
Desert Southwest: USDA zones 7a to 10a, frost window February 5 to December 5. - Texas vegetable planting calendar
Texas: USDA zones 8a to 10a, frost window March 1 to November 28. - Southern California vegetable planting calendar
Southern California: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - Mid-South vegetable planting calendar
Mid-South: USDA zones 7a to 8b, frost window April 10 to October 25. - Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar
Pacific Northwest: USDA zones 6b to 9a, frost window March 25 to November 15. - Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 10 to October 15. - Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic: USDA zones 6b to 8a, frost window April 15 to October 25. - Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar
Midwest & Great Lakes: USDA zones 5a to 7a, frost window April 30 to October 15. - Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Mountain West: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 5 to September 30. - Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains: USDA zones 5b to 7b, frost window April 10 to October 30. - Northern California vegetable planting calendar
Northern California & Central Valley: USDA zones 7b to 10a, frost window February 28 to November 17. - Hawaii vegetable planting calendar
Hawaii: USDA zones 11b to 12b, effectively frost free. - Alaska vegetable planting calendar
Alaska: USDA zones 1b to 7b, frost window May 15 to September 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How short is the growing season?
Roughly 120-150 frost-free days. Start long-season crops indoors and transplant after the mid-to-late May last frost to make the most of summer.
How accurate are these dates?
A careful first pass based on regional extension calendars, under local review.
What vegetables can I plant now in the Upper Midwest?
It depends on the month. Going by our Upper Midwest & Northern Plains calendar, in spring (Mar to May) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli; in summer (Jun to Aug) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli; in fall (Sep to Nov) you can sow Garlic; in winter (Dec to Feb) there are no vegetable sowings. The What to plant in the Upper Midwest now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in the Upper Midwest?
Across the Upper Midwest the average last spring frost is around May 15 and the first fall frost around September 25, a growing season of about 133 days. ZIP code records for Minneapolis (55401) give a typical last spring frost of April 23 and a first fall frost of October 16. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in the Upper Midwest?
Our Upper Midwest & Northern Plains calendar has tomatoes planted in May to June. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in the Upper Midwest?
Our Upper Midwest & Northern Plains calendar has garlic planted in September to October. More in how to grow garlic.