Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Grand Forks

United States

In Grand Forks the last spring frost usually comes around 10 May and the first autumn frost around 16 October, which leaves about 159 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 24 May to 26 June.

Last spring frostaround 10 May
First autumn frostaround 16 October
Frost-free days159 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Grand Forks?

The last frost in Grand Forks usually comes around 10 May: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 19 April, while corn waits until 17 May. The first autumn frost follows around 16 October, about 159 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha17 March – 8 July26 April – 17 August17 May – 17 August
Ageratumfrom 8 March—from 24 May
Arugula——sow 19 April – 11 September
Basil7 April – 14 August15 May – 21 September5 June – 21 September
Beet——sow 19 April – 17 August
Bell Pepper16 March – 27 April15 May – 26 June5 June – 26 June
Black-eyed Susanfrom 23 February—from 17 May
Bok Choy22 March – 25 August26 April – 29 September17 May – 29 September
Borage——sow 17 May – 22 August
Broad bean——sow 19 April – 8 July
Broccoli——sow 19 April – 1 July
Brussels Sprouts12 February – 29 May29 March – 13 July19 April – 13 July
Busy Lizziefrom 22 February—from 17 May
Cabbage——sow 19 April – 8 June
Calendula——sow from 19 April
Carrot——sow 19 April – 24 July
Cauliflower15 February – 1 July29 March – 12 August19 April – 12 August
Celeriac8 February – 28 April26 April – 14 July17 May – 14 July
Celery8 February – 8 May26 April – 24 July17 May – 24 July
Celosiafrom 20 Marchfrom 4 Mayfrom 25 May
Chamomile——sow 19 April – 12 August
Chayote28 January – 21 April26 April – 18 July17 May – 18 July
Chickpea——sow 19 April – 28 June
Chicory4 March – 23 July—19 April – 17 August
Chili Pepper16 March – 3 June15 May – 2 August5 June – 2 August
China asterfrom 24 Marchfrom 15 Mayfrom 5 June
Chives——sow 19 April – 3 August
Cilantro——sow 19 April – 13 August
Corn——sow 17 May – 28 June
Corn poppy——sow from 19 April
Cosmosfrom 20 Marchfrom 4 Mayfrom 25 May
Cucumber17 April – 4 July15 May – 1 August5 June – 1 August
Daikon——sow 19 April – 10 August
Delphiniumfrom 29 January—from 19 April
Dill——sow 19 April – 23 August
Edging lobeliafrom 22 February—from 17 May
Eggplant16 March – 27 April15 May – 26 June5 June – 26 June
Florence fennel12 March – 8 July26 April – 22 August17 May – 22 August
Foxglovefrom 11 January—from 19 April
Garden sorrel——sow 19 April – 11 August
Green Beans——sow 25 May – 6 July
Hollyhock——sow from 19 April
Hyssop——sow 19 April – 4 July
Kale——sow 19 April – 5 August
Kiwano1 April – 11 July3 May – 12 August24 May – 12 August
Kohlrabi——sow 19 April – 15 August
Leek18 January – 19 April29 March – 28 June19 April – 28 June
Lemon balm——sow 19 April – 7 August
Lettuce——sow 19 April – 20 August
Lisianthusfrom 1 Januaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Lovage——sow from 19 April
Luffa3 April – 5 May15 May – 16 June5 June – 16 June
Marigoldfrom 15 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Marjoram16 March – 23 July—5 June – 21 September
Melon17 April – 21 June15 May – 19 July5 June – 19 July
Microgreens——sow 25 May – 2 October
Moringa23 March – 28 July17 May – 21 September7 June – 21 September
Moss rosefrom 1 March—from 17 May
Mustard greens——sow 19 April – 1 September
Napa cabbage24 March – 2 August26 April – 4 September17 May – 4 September
Nasturtiumfrom 19 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Okra3 April – 16 July15 May – 27 August5 June – 27 August
Oregano28 January – 13 July29 March – 11 September19 April – 11 September
Pansyfrom 1 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Parsley——sow 19 April – 1 August
Parsnip——sow 19 April – 20 June
Peanut8 April – 11 June15 May – 18 July5 June – 18 July
Peas——sow 19 April – 3 August
Petuniafrom 13 Marchfrom 15 Mayfrom 5 June
Physalis19 March – 8 June3 May – 23 July24 May – 23 July
Pumpkin3 April – 10 May15 May – 21 June5 June – 21 June
Purple coneflowerfrom 26 January—from 19 April
Radish——sow 19 April – 16 September
Sage8 February – 9 July29 March – 27 August19 April – 27 August
Scarlet sagefrom 12 March—from 24 May
Snapdragonfrom 23 Januaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Soybean——sow 5 June – 28 July
Spinach——sow 19 April – 22 August
Stevia15 March – 30 May3 May – 18 July24 May – 18 July
Stock——sow from 19 April
Sunflower——sow from 25 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 19 April
Sweet Corn4 April – 23 July26 April – 14 August17 May – 14 August
Sweet peafrom 15 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Sweet William——sow from 19 April
Swiss Chard——sow 19 April – 17 August
Thyme——sow 19 April – 28 June
Tomato12 March – 5 May3 May – 26 June24 May – 26 June
Turnip——sow 19 April – 19 August
Watercress——sow 19 April – 30 August
Watermelon17 April – 9 June15 May – 7 July5 June – 7 July
Zinniafrom 12 Aprilfrom 17 Mayfrom 7 June
Zucchini24 April – 9 July15 May – 30 July5 June – 30 July

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Grand Forks

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 3 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 14 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C20 April20 days earlier
10 °C7 May3 days earlier
15 °C24 May14 days later
18 °C5 June26 days later

Frost dates near Grand Forks

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Duluth (28 April) and latest in Winnipeg (12 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Fargo118 km30 April16 October
Winnipeg220 km12 May12 October
Bismarck303 km1 May15 October
Duluth396 km28 April28 October
Minneapolis439 km28 April24 October

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Grand Forks

Within 15 km of Grand Forks OpenStreetMap lists 2 markets (collected 29 October 2026). The nearest market to the city centre is Town Square Farmers Market, 5 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Grand Forks

Frosts in Grand Forks usually come from about 16 October to about 10 May. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Grand Forks by month

Average weather in Grand Forks over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (20.5–27.9 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in November–April (-15.9–-0.8 °C). About 599 mm of rain falls in a year, on 92 days; June is the wettest month (89 mm) and January the driest (17 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-7.1-15.8175
February-5.7-15.9185
March3.3-7.2246
April10.4-0.8609
May20.57.96910
June26.314.88910
July27.917.1728
August26.315.9619
September22.212.3608
October12.84.2608
November3.6-4.3286
December-4.3-12.9418

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 16 September
Crocus16 September – 31 October
Daffodil16 September – 31 October
Garlic16 September – 31 October
Grape hyacinthby 16 September
Helleboreby 16 September
Hyacinth16 September – 31 October
Lilyby 16 September
Ornamental onionby 16 September
Peonyby 16 September
Saffronby 16 September
Snowdropby 16 September
Tulip16 September – 31 October
Wild garlicby 16 September

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).