When to plant in Caledonia, MN
Planting dates worked out from Caledonia's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
May 14
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Apr 30
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Oct 5
1 year in 10 by Sep 22
Frost-free days
157
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Caledonia · 0.6 km away · station 345 m, town 360 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 8 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 13 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 | May 21 |
| Peas | — | Apr 11 – May 9 | Jun 5 |
| Bush beans | — | May 7 – May 28 | Jun 26 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Jun 20 |
| Beet | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Jun 10 |
| Potato | — | Apr 21 – May 12 | Jun 30 |
| Kale | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | Apr 18 – May 2 | May 31 |
| Broccoli | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – May 2 | Jun 10 |
| Cucumber | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 3 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 28 | Jun 28 |
| Winter squash | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | May 14 – May 28 | Aug 2 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 7 – May 28 | Jul 6 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 11 – May 2 | Jul 10 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 21 – Oct 19 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 11 – May 9 | May 19 |
| Basil | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | May 14 – May 28 | Jul 10 |
Caledonia's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1894 | May 19 |
| 1895 | May 21 |
| 1896 | Apr 10 |
| 1897 | Jun 1 |
| 1898 | Apr 21 |
| 1899 | Apr 22 |
| 1900 | May 4 |
| 1901 | May 12 |
| 1902 | May 10 |
| 1903 | May 3 |
| 1904 | Apr 21 |
| 1905 | Apr 30 |
| 1906 | May 9 |
| 1907 | May 20 |
| 1908 | May 7 |
| 1911 | May 3 |
| 1912 | Apr 18 |
| 1913 | Apr 27 |
| 1914 | Apr 21 |
| 1916 | May 2 |
| 1917 | Apr 27 |
| 1918 | May 13 |
| 1919 | Apr 25 |
| 1959 | Apr 21 |
| 1960 | May 12 |
| 1961 | May 26 |
| 1962 | Apr 20 |
| 1963 | May 23 |
| 1964 | Apr 24 |
| 1965 | May 30 |
| 1966 | May 29 |
| 1967 | May 22 |
| 1968 | May 5 |
| 1969 | May 12 |
| 1970 | May 6 |
| 1971 | May 12 |
| 1972 | Apr 26 |
| 1973 | May 4 |
| 1974 | May 9 |
| 1975 | May 4 |
| 1976 | May 7 |
| 1977 | May 9 |
| 1978 | May 21 |
| 1981 | May 11 |
| 1982 | Apr 28 |
| 1983 | May 26 |
| 1984 | May 9 |
| 1985 | Apr 15 |
| 1986 | May 3 |
| 1987 | Apr 13 |
| 1988 | Apr 29 |
| 1990 | May 2 |
| 1991 | Apr 13 |
| 1992 | Apr 28 |
| 1993 | Apr 22 |
| 1994 | May 2 |
| 1995 | Apr 23 |
| 1996 | May 14 |
| 1997 | May 22 |
| 2000 | Apr 22 |
| 2001 | Apr 19 |
| 2002 | May 20 |
| 2003 | Apr 24 |
| 2004 | May 5 |
| 2005 | May 4 |
| 2006 | May 6 |
| 2007 | Apr 17 |
| 2008 | Apr 30 |
| 2009 | Apr 17 |
| 2010 | May 9 |
| 2011 | May 4 |
| 2012 | Apr 18 |
| 2013 | May 13 |
| 2014 | Apr 18 |
| 2015 | Apr 26 |
| 2016 | May 15 |
| 2017 | May 3 |
| 2018 | Apr 29 |
| 2019 | Apr 29 |
| 2020 | May 12 |
| 2021 | May 11 |
| 2022 | May 4 |
| 2023 | Apr 27 |
| 2024 | Apr 25 |
| 2025 | Apr 17 |
| 2026 | May 7 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1895 | 131 |
| 1896 | 162 |
| 1897 | 110 |
| 1898 | 167 |
| 1899 | 156 |
| 1901 | 127 |
| 1902 | 124 |
| 1903 | 137 |
| 1904 | 167 |
| 1905 | 163 |
| 1906 | 149 |
| 1907 | 127 |
| 1908 | 144 |
| 1911 | 170 |
| 1912 | 188 |
| 1913 | 173 |
| 1914 | 188 |
| 1916 | 149 |
| 1917 | 135 |
| 1918 | 133 |
| 1959 | 172 |
| 1960 | 158 |
| 1961 | 124 |
| 1962 | 152 |
| 1963 | 112 |
| 1964 | 156 |
| 1965 | 118 |
| 1966 | 124 |
| 1967 | 128 |
| 1968 | 151 |
| 1969 | 154 |
| 1970 | 150 |
| 1971 | 130 |
| 1972 | 156 |
| 1973 | 168 |
| 1974 | 135 |
| 1975 | 130 |
| 1976 | 139 |
| 1978 | 129 |
| 1981 | 139 |
| 1982 | 170 |
| 1983 | 119 |
| 1984 | 139 |
| 1985 | 164 |
| 1986 | 155 |
| 1987 | 172 |
| 1988 | 157 |
| 1990 | 161 |
| 1991 | 159 |
| 1992 | 153 |
| 1993 | 160 |
| 1995 | 152 |
| 1996 | 141 |
| 1997 | 144 |
| 2000 | 166 |
| 2001 | 159 |
| 2003 | 157 |
| 2004 | 149 |
| 2005 | 169 |
| 2006 | 158 |
| 2007 | 150 |
| 2008 | 156 |
| 2009 | 175 |
| 2010 | 146 |
| 2011 | 133 |
| 2012 | 157 |
| 2013 | 156 |
| 2014 | 169 |
| 2015 | 173 |
| 2016 | 150 |
| 2017 | 177 |
| 2018 | 165 |
| 2019 | 165 |
| 2020 | 142 |
| 2021 | 163 |
| 2022 | 157 |
| 2023 | 166 |
| 2024 | 173 |
| 2025 | 188 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1894 | 18.1 °C |
| 1895 | 17.4 °C |
| 1896 | 17.3 °C |
| 1897 | 17.0 °C |
| 1898 | 16.9 °C |
| 1899 | 16.2 °C |
| 1901 | 17.6 °C |
| 1902 | 15.6 °C |
| 1903 | 15.3 °C |
| 1904 | 16.4 °C |
| 1905 | 15.8 °C |
| 1906 | 17.4 °C |
| 1907 | 14.8 °C |
| 1908 | 16.3 °C |
| 1909 | 16.0 °C |
| 1910 | 17.4 °C |
| 1911 | 17.1 °C |
| 1912 | 16.5 °C |
| 1913 | 16.9 °C |
| 1914 | 16.9 °C |
| 1916 | 16.4 °C |
| 1917 | 14.7 °C |
| 1918 | 15.4 °C |
| 1919 | 17.1 °C |
| 1959 | 17.4 °C |
| 1960 | 16.0 °C |
| 1961 | 14.6 °C |
| 1962 | 14.7 °C |
| 1963 | 15.0 °C |
| 1964 | 15.7 °C |
| 1965 | 14.4 °C |
| 1966 | 14.6 °C |
| 1967 | 15.2 °C |
| 1968 | 16.7 °C |
| 1969 | 16.7 °C |
| 1970 | 17.2 °C |
| 1971 | 16.5 °C |
| 1972 | 16.4 °C |
| 1973 | 16.6 °C |
| 1974 | 15.8 °C |
| 1975 | 15.8 °C |
| 1976 | 17.0 °C |
| 1981 | 16.4 °C |
| 1983 | 16.4 °C |
| 1984 | 16.1 °C |
| 1985 | 16.7 °C |
| 1986 | 16.8 °C |
| 1987 | 17.5 °C |
| 1988 | 18.3 °C |
| 1990 | 16.1 °C |
| 1991 | 17.2 °C |
| 1992 | 14.6 °C |
| 1993 | 14.9 °C |
| 1995 | 16.6 °C |
| 1996 | 15.2 °C |
| 1997 | 15.4 °C |
| 1999 | 16.8 °C |
| 2000 | 16.1 °C |
| 2001 | 16.2 °C |
| 2002 | 16.4 °C |
| 2003 | 16.1 °C |
| 2004 | 15.8 °C |
| 2005 | 17.2 °C |
| 2006 | 17.0 °C |
| 2007 | 17.0 °C |
| 2008 | 15.9 °C |
| 2009 | 15.5 °C |
| 2010 | 17.6 °C |
| 2011 | 16.3 °C |
| 2012 | 17.6 °C |
| 2013 | 15.9 °C |
| 2014 | 16.2 °C |
| 2015 | 17.1 °C |
| 2016 | 17.3 °C |
| 2017 | 17.2 °C |
| 2018 | 16.9 °C |
| 2019 | 16.9 °C |
| 2020 | 16.9 °C |
| 2021 | 17.8 °C |
| 2022 | 16.7 °C |
| 2023 | 17.6 °C |
| 2024 | 17.3 °C |
| 2025 | 17.3 °C |
| 2026 | 17.8 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1894, Caledonia's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. The frost-free season has grown by about 1 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Caledonia (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.