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

Planting zone for Rochester, MN

Rochester, MN is in USDA zone 4b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 6.

Rochester on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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 codes5
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 6
Growing season159 days

4b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rochester, 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 Rochester, 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 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Rochester Intl Airport, MN, elevation 1,306 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 Rochester

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 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 55903 came on Mar 30 — 18 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 Rochester, MN.

Soil in Rochester, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55903 is Waukee — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Waukee loam, 0 to 2 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 55903; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rochester, MN

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,511base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37 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 7 °F 23°7° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 14 °F 28°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 4.84 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rochester Intl Airport, MN (9 mi away); precipitation: Rochester 2.6 Ne, MN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Rochester

559014b
−25 to −20 °F
559024b
−25 to −20 °F
559034b
−25 to −20 °F
559044b
−25 to −20 °F
559064b
−25 to −20 °F

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about Rochester

What planting zone is Rochester, MN?

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

When is the last frost in Rochester, MN?

The median last spring frost is April 30 and the median first fall frost is October 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rochester Intl Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Rochester, 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 Rochester, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Rochester, MN get?

About 37 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).