What to plant this week in St. Paul, MN
St. Paul gardeners are racing against the clock this week as the average last frost date hits May 8, meaning any remaining cold snaps could still wipe out tender starts. While you won't be sowing anything directly into the ground yet due to lingering chill in zone 5a soil, it is prime time to transplant your basil, beans, and peppers that have been acclimating indoors or under cover.
The next 7 days
St. Paul, MNGrowing in St. Paul right now
- St. Paul's clay-heavy soils retain moisture well but require extra aeration when planting warm-season crops like squash and melons now to prevent root rot during wet springs.
- With the average first frost arriving Oct 8, be aggressive this week about hardening off transplants; late May temperatures can still dip near freezing at night before stabilizing.
- Take advantage of the window between mid-May and early July to get your garlic planted, as this is the final push for establishing cloves before summer heat sets in.
- Monitor soil temperature closely before moving out warm-season favorites like cucumbers and corn; planting too early into cold earth will stunt growth significantly.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Focus on soil preparation now by adding compost and organic matter to improve drainage before spring thaw.
- Clean up garden debris and remove winter weeds that may have survived under snow cover.
- Plan your succession planting schedule based on the May 8th last frost date for warm-weather crops.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids and spider mites on newly transplanted peppers and tomatoes as they emerge from protective covers or move outdoors after the frost danger passes.
- Slugs thrive in St. Paul's damp spring microclimates, especially around young seedlings of lettuce-family crops like borage and nasturtium.
- Powdery mildew can quickly develop on squash and melons if humidity remains high during unseasonably warm May days.
Watering this week
Skip outdoor watering entirely until the ground thaws, but ensure storage areas stay dry.
Use this quiet time to order seeds for your summer crops like Watermelon, Zucchini, and Sunflower so they arrive by late winter.
St. Paul gardening questions
3Can I still plant my winter squash seeds directly into the St. Paul garden this week?
Not yet; despite some warmer patches, the soil in zone 5a is likely too cold for reliable germination of winter squash and should wait until late May or early June.
What is the best time to plant garlic in St. Paul to ensure a good harvest before October?
This week is ideal for planting garlic cloves, as getting them in the ground now allows roots to establish before summer heat interferes with bulb formation.
How should I handle my basil and bush bean plants if a late frost hits after May 8?
Cover sensitive transplants immediately with row covers or old sheets at the first sign of dropping temperatures, as even a few hours near freezing can damage them.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your St. Paul garden in SproutGuide →