Fargo, North Dakota frost dates
Frost risk by date
| Chance of frost | Spring: frost after | Fall: frost before |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | April 27 | October 15 |
| 70% | May 4 | October 5 |
| 50% | May 10 | September 30 |
| 30% | May 15 | September 25 |
| 10% | May 23 | September 18 |
Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 23. These are NOAA probabilities for the Fargo Hector International Airport weather station (USW00014914, elevation 274 m), 1991–2020.
Fargo vegetable planting calendar
Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (May 10). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 23) is the cautious choice.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Apr 19 | May 17 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Broccoli | Mar 1 | Apr 12 |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 1 | Apr 12 |
| Cabbage | Feb 22 | Apr 5 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 15 | Apr 26 |
| Sweet corn | Apr 12 | May 10 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 | May 17 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5 |
| Leeks | Jan 25 | Apr 5 |
| Lettuce | Mar 22 | Apr 26 |
| Melons | May 3 | May 24 |
| Onions | Jan 18 | Mar 29 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time) |
| Peas | Mar 15 | Apr 12 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Peppers | Mar 29 | May 24 |
| Squash | May 3 | May 24 |
| Tomatoes | Mar 15 | May 10 |
Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.
Fall frost and season extension
The first fall freeze usually arrives around September 30. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before September 18. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around October 10.
Nearby cities
| City | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | May 14 | Sep 27 | ~300 km |
| Duluth, MN | May 13 | Oct 1 | ~349 km |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Oct 18 | ~354 km |
| Sioux Falls, SD | May 1 | Oct 6 | ~371 km |
| Rapid City, SD | May 12 | Oct 1 | ~571 km |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Oct 21 | ~627 km |