Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Bismarck, North Dakota

Typical last spring frost May 14 (1 spring in 10 later than May 27). Typical first fall frost September 27 (1 fall in 10 earlier than September 15). Growing season about 136 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until May 1 and fades out by May 27. It is unlikely from then until September 15, and likely again after October 9. The dashed lines are the typical dates, May 14 and September 27.

Your season is too short for a separate fall planting of cabbage and broccoli: sown late enough to be a fall crop, it wouldn't be ready before the typical first frost. Your spring planting is your harvest.

January

Nothing to start this month.

February

  • February 26 to March 26: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 12 to April 9: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
  • March 26 to April 16: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)

April

  • April 2 to 16: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • April 9 to 23: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • April 16 to 30: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • April 16 to 30: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • April 30 to May 14: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • April 30 to May 14: Cauliflower (plant out)

May

  • May 14: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • May 28: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • May 28: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

June

Nothing to start this month.

July

  • July 1: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 5: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 6: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 10: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 11: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 15: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 25: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 4: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 14: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 15: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

October

  • October 12 to 19: Garlic (plant cloves)

November

Nothing to start this month.

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Bismarck (station USW00024011), 3 miles from the center of Bismarck. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/north-dakota/bismarck/

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