When to plant lavender in Fargo, North Dakota

May 10 – May 24

Transplant outdoors · typical Fargo year

Climate basis: NOAA station Fargo Hector INTL AP, ND (USW00014914), 1 mi (2 km) from downtown Fargo (ZCTA 58102 centroid), elevation 900 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant lavender outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (May 10). One year in ten still freezes after May 23.

Last spring freezeMay 101-in-10 after May 23
First fall freezeSeptember 301-in-10 before Sep 18
Frost-free season143 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 30Oct 10kills even hardy greens
USDA zone4a-30 to -25°F winter low not frost timing

The Fargo year

Transplant outdoorsMay 10 – May 24
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 23
Lavender in Fargo · freeze context from Fargo Hector INTL AP, ND, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

May 10 – May 24

Utah State University Extension instructs transplanting after the last spring frost, a point rule encoded per policy as a 14-day span opening at the last-frost date; no reconciliation was needed because this is the entry's only source. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 10). Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Utah State University Extension advises against direct seeding, stating that the germination rate is low and that seeding to transplanting takes between 100 and 200 days.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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