Frost dates for ZIP 56303 (St. Cloud, MN)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, St Cloud Rgnl AP, MN (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)144 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 56303 (St. Cloud)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 56303, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.
This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Crescent Lake #1 (17 mi).
4-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 51°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Crescent Lake #1 (17 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 56303 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 51°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 24 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 23 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 18 | Sep 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 7 | Sep 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 | Oct 8 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 56303
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Sep 30). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 12–26 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 12–26 | Apr 16–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–May 7 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 10–Jul 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 14 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 2–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 28–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 9–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 9–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 12–26 | May 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: St Cloud Rgnl AP, MN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00014926), elevation 1,018 ft, 8.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collegeville St John's, MN | 9 mi | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Rice, MN | 13 mi | May 10 | Sep 29 |
| Kimball 3N, MN | 16 mi | May 2 | Oct 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 56303
When is the last frost in 56303?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 56303 is May 7. For a more cautious planting date, use May 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 56303?
The average first fall freeze is September 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 16.
What hardiness zone is 56303?
ZIP 56303 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 56303 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
56387 Waite Park 56377 Sartell 56374 St. Joseph 56301 St. Cloud 56379 Sauk Rapids 56304 St. Cloud 56321 St. John's University 56375 St. Stephen
Other ZIP codes in Stearns County
55320 55353 55382 56301 56307 56310 56312 56320 56321 56325 56331 56335 56340 56352 56356 56362 56368 56369 56371 56374 56375 56376 56377 56378 All Stearns County frost dates · Minnesota frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.