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

Planting zone for 55012 — Center City, MN

ZIP code 55012 (Center City, Chisago County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 55012 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostSep 25
2012 zone4a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Center City, 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 Center City, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 10
Growing season128 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Wild Rvr Sp, MN — 6 miles away, elevation 840 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 55012

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 31 – Aug 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 11 – Oct 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Sep 25) 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 55012 came on Apr 14 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 Center City, MN.

Soil in Center City, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55012 is Branstad — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Branstad loam, 2 to 6 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 55012; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Center City, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,244base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 0 °F 22°0° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 4 °F 27°4° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 17 °F 40°17° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 8 °F 27°8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 FebMarch: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 NovDecember: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wild Rvr Sp, MN (6 mi away); precipitation: Wild Rvr Sp, MN (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

550454b
Lindstrom, MN · 4 mi
550844a
Taylors Falls, MN · 4 mi
550744b
Shafer, MN · 5 mi
550134b
Chisago City, MN · 8 mi
540244a
Saint Croix Falls, WI · 8 mi
550564b
North Branch, MN · 10 mi
550784b
Stacy, MN · 10 mi
550734b
Scandia, MN · 11 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55012

What planting zone is ZIP code 55012?

ZIP code 55012 (Center City, MN) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Center City, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55012 is May 19; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wild Rvr Sp station.

When is the first frost in Center City, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55012 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 128 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55012?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55012 get?

About 32.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wild Rvr Sp station).

How hot do summers get in Center City, MN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 55012 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Branstad at the center of ZIP 55012: loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Center City, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55012 came on Apr 14 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Center City, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55012 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).