Gardening in Minnesota - What to Plant in Spring & Fall

Having a productive garden in Minnesota is easy to accomplish so long as you have the right plan. Below we’ll walk you through which plants thrive in Minnesota, when to plant in Minnesota, and how to adapt your garden as the seasons change.

Understanding Minnesota Hardiness Zones

Hardiness zones, sometimes referred to as “growing zones” or “planting zones”, were created by the USDA to help gardeners determine which plants are best suited for a particular location.

Minnesota encompasses 3 hardiness zones. They are zones 3, 4 and 5. Before we get started, determine which zone you live in by visiting this interactive USDA hardiness zone map.

At their core, hardiness zones only represent how cold a particular area gets in winter. This information, combined with the average frost dates for your area, is the key to planting the right herbs and vegetables in Minnesota.

Below, we’ll guide you through the best crops to grow in your zone in Minnesota and when to plant them.

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Spring Gardening in Minnesota

In Minnesota growing zones 3, 4 and 5, spring is considerably cold compared to most other areas. As a result, the viable growing season in these locations is fairly short.

To get the most out of your garden in Minnesota zones 3, 4 and 5, seedlings should to be started indoors. We also recommend using a blanket of straw to help protect transplants from a surprise frost.

With so much of the growing season experiencing cooler temperatures, focusing on frost tolerant crops is a great strategy for success. Vegetables such as onions, broccolini, green peas, and iceberg lettuce can usually be planted in late April or May for zones 3, 4 and 5. Cool weather crops that have a bit longer growing period, such as Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and artichokes, are another great option for the colder areas of Minnesota.

But at the end of the day, for most common garden vegetables in Minnesota zones 3, 4 and 5, planting will have to wait until things warm up in June.

Fall Gardening in Minnesota

For Minnesota growing zones 3, 4 and 5, fall gardening is a race against the cold. Likely, you’ll want to plant short season fall crops during July or August, to ensure ample harvest time before the season’s first frost hits.

Cold hardy produce are the most viable fall crops for Minnesota growing zones 3, 4 and 5. Some of our favorites for Minnesota are collard greens, buttercrunch lettuce, green peas, and iceberg lettuce. Not only can these type of plants withstand a bit of cold, but they’ll be great roasted or thrown in soups and stews during the Minnesota winter months.

You can also extend the life of your fall garden in Minnesota zones 3, 4 and 5 by using methods such as hotbeds, covering plants with a plastic sheet at night, or “overwintering” perennials such as tomatoes and peppers.

Still not sure what to plant in Minnesota?

See our full list of growing guides for cold weather vegetables and warm weather vegetables for more inspiration.