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

Planting zone for Mankato, MN

Mankato, MN is in USDA zone 5a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 9.

Mankato 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 codes3
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 9
Growing season161 days

5a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mankato, 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 Mankato, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Mankato, MN, elevation 850 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 Mankato

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 56002 came on Mar 30 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Mankato, MN.

Soil in Mankato, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56002 is Dorchester — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dorchester-Urban land complex, 1 to 3 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 56002; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mankato, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights161nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,657base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year; 82 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 24 °F, low 6 °F 24°6° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 9 °F 29°9° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.99 in precipitation, 8.2 in snowfall 1.0❄8 JanFebruary: 0.84 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.8❄7 FebMarch: 1.88 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.31 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.3❄2 AprMay: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.64 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.37 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.4 OctNovember: 1.65 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 1.6❄6 NovDecember: 1.13 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 1.1❄9 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Mankato

560015a
−20 to −15 °F
560025a
−20 to −15 °F
560035a
−20 to −15 °F

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about Mankato

What planting zone is Mankato, MN?

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

When is the last frost in Mankato, MN?

The median last spring frost is April 30 and the median first fall frost is October 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mankato station).

When can I plant a garden in Mankato, MN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 19 – Apr 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Mankato, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Mankato, MN get?

About 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).