Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Detroit Lakes, MN

Detroit Lakes, MN is in USDA zone 4a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 24.

Detroit Lakes on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 15
First frostSep 24
Growing season130 days

4a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Detroit Lakes, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 24median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Detroit Lakes 1 Nne, MN, elevation 1,355 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Detroit Lakes

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 30 – Aug 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 10 – Oct 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 24) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 56501 came on Apr 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 4a in Minnesota

445 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 45

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °F

Shrubs 77

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 173

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 140

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbasin wildrye5 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Soil in Detroit Lakes, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56501 is Haslie — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter65%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Haslie muck.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 56501; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Detroit Lakes, MN

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights177nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,049base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall48 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 17 °F, low -4 °F 17°−4° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low 0 °F 23°0° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° SepOctober: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° OctNovember: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° NovDecember: average high 22 °F, low 6 °F 22°6° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.82 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 0.8❄8 JanFebruary: 0.66 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 0.7❄9 FebMarch: 0.96 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 1.0❄8 MarApril: 2.03 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 2.0❄5 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.84 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.8❄1 OctNovember: 1.37 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.4❄5 NovDecember: 0.98 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 1.0❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Detroit Lakes 1 Nne, MN (within 1 mile); precipitation: Detroit Lakes 1 Nne, MN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Detroit Lakes

565014a
−30 to −25 °F
565024a
−30 to −25 °F

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about Detroit Lakes

What planting zone is Detroit Lakes, MN?

Detroit Lakes, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map (4a: −30 to −25 °F).

When is the last frost in Detroit Lakes, MN?

The median last spring frost is May 15 and the median first fall frost is September 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Detroit Lakes 1 Nne station).

When can I plant a garden in Detroit Lakes, MN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 3 – Apr 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Detroit Lakes, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 52 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Detroit Lakes, MN get?

About 29.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).