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

Planting zone for Elko New Market, MN

Elko New Market, MN is in USDA zone 4b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 10.

Elko New Market on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 10
Growing season166 days

4b 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 Elko New Market, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Farmington 3 Nw, MN, elevation 981 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 Elko New Market

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 55020 came on Apr 10 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 4b in Minnesota

497 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 47

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 88

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 190

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 156

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °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 °F

Vines 4

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 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Elko New Market, MN.

Soil in Elko New Market, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55020 is Lester — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lester loam, 6 to 10 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 55020; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elko New Market, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,692base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 8 °F 23°8° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 14 °F 28°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 OctNovember: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 NovDecember: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Farmington 3 Nw, MN (12 mi away); precipitation: New Prague 4.8 Ese, MN (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Elko New Market

550204b
−25 to −20 °F
550544b
−25 to −20 °F

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about Elko New Market

What planting zone is Elko New Market, MN?

Elko New Market, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F).

When is the last frost in Elko New Market, MN?

The median last spring frost is April 27 and the median first fall frost is October 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmington 3 Nw station).

When can I plant a garden in Elko New Market, MN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 16 – Apr 6; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Elko New Market, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 34 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Elko New Market, MN get?

About 34.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).