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

Planting zone for 55037 — Hinckley, MN

ZIP code 55037 (Hinckley, Pine County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 24.

Where ZIP 55037 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 16
First frostSep 24
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 Hinckley, 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 Hinckley, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 24median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 2.

From the NOAA station Hinckley, MN — 10 miles away, elevation 1,037 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 55037

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 30 – Aug 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 10 – Oct 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 24) 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 55037 came on Apr 18 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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).

Soil in Hinckley, MN

The center of ZIP 55037 is mapped as No Digital Data Available: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 55037; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hinckley, MN

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,819base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall45 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 19 °F, low -1 °F 19°−1° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 3 °F 25°3° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 9 °F 26°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.95 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.9❄7 JanFebruary: 0.90 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 0.9❄8 FebMarch: 1.64 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 1.6❄8 MarApril: 2.77 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 2.8❄4 AprMay: 3.81 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.8 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.45 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.5❄1 OctNovember: 1.61 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 1.6❄9 NovDecember: 1.30 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 1.3❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hinckley, MN (10 mi away); precipitation: Hinckley, MN (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

550634a
Pine City, MN · 13 mi
550724a
Sandstone, MN · 14 mi
557044a
Askov, MN · 15 mi
550074a
Brook Park, MN · 16 mi
557354a
Finlayson, MN · 17 mi
550364a
Henriette, MN · 18 mi
548404a
Grantsburg, WI · 18 mi
550304a
Grasston, MN · 19 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55037

What planting zone is ZIP code 55037?

ZIP code 55037 (Hinckley, 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 Hinckley, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55037 is May 16; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hinckley station.

When is the first frost in Hinckley, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55037 is September 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 130 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55037?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55037 get?

About 33 inches of precipitation a year and 45 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hinckley station).

How hot do summers get in Hinckley, MN?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Hinckley, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55037 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hinckley, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55037 is 15 h 45 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).