USDA hardiness zone
Zone 3 — -40 to -30°F
Northern Minnesota, North Dakota, interior Alaska · 110-day growing season
What grows in Zone 3
Zone 3 suits the following plants based on temperature tolerance and growing-season length:
- Apple (Honeycrisp, Haralson)
- Plum (Mount Royal)
- Sour cherry
- Currants
- Strawberries
- Asparagus
- Tomatoes (short-season)
- Carrots
- Peas
- Beans (bush)
- Squash (winter)
- Garlic (fall-planted)
Climate notes for Zone 3
Frost-tender vegetables need row covers and short-season varieties. Heat-loving crops (peppers, eggplant) require greenhouses or season extension.
Frost dates and timing
| Average last spring frost | late May |
|---|---|
| Average first fall frost | early September |
| Growing season length | ~110 days |
| Temperature range (F) | -40 to -30°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -40 to -34°C |
These are zone-wide averages. Local microclimates (south-facing slopes, urban heat, lakeside warmth) can shift dates by 1-2 weeks within the same zone.
Source and methodology
Temperature ranges from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023). Frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online national averages within each zone. Plant recommendations curated by the Growli editorial team from US extension service references.
What to plant in Zone 3
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates for zone 3:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 3
- When to plant basil in zone 3
- When to plant garlic in zone 3
- When to plant lettuce in zone 3
- When to plant bush beans in zone 3
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 3
- When to plant summer squash in zone 3
- When to plant peas in zone 3
- When to plant carrots in zone 3