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

Planting zone for Hopkins, MN

Hopkins, MN is in USDA zone 5a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 12.

Hopkins 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 12
Growing season163 days

5a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hopkins, MN…

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 Hopkins, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station New Hope, MN, elevation 909 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 Hopkins

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 55305 came on Apr 10 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16).

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 5a in Minnesota

521 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 92

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 201

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 164

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 5

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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Hopkins, MN.

Soil in Hopkins, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55305 is Malardi — sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Malardi-Hawick complex, 18 to 35 percent slopes.

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 55305; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hopkins, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,711base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.7 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 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 11 °F 29°11° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 14 °F 29°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 1.65 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 NovDecember: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: New Hope, MN (4 mi away); precipitation: Golden Valley 0.8 Wsw, MN (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Hopkins

553055a
−20 to −15 °F
553435a
−20 to −15 °F

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about Hopkins

What planting zone is Hopkins, MN?

Hopkins, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Hopkins, MN?

The median last spring frost is April 29 and the median first fall frost is October 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Hope station).

When can I plant a garden in Hopkins, MN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 18 – Apr 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 6, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Hopkins, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Hopkins, MN get?

About 32.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).