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

Planting zone for 55053 — Nerstrand, MN

ZIP code 55053 (Nerstrand, Rice County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 55053 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 5
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Nerstrand, 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 Nerstrand, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Faribault, MN — 11 miles away, elevation 971 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 55053

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 55053 came on Apr 11 — 6 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 Nerstrand, MN.

Soil in Nerstrand, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55053 is Port Byron — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Port Byron silt 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 55053; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Nerstrand, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,529base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.5 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 23 °F, low 5 °F 23°5° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 8 °F 28°8° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 5.34 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 NovDecember: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Faribault, MN (11 mi away); precipitation: Nerstrand 4.2 E, MN (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

550184b
Dennison, MN · 6 mi
559464b
Kenyon, MN · 8 mi
550194b
Dundas, MN · 10 mi
550574b
Northfield, MN · 10 mi
550214b
Faribault, MN · 11 mi
550094b
Cannon Falls, MN · 13 mi
559834b
Wanamingo, MN · 13 mi
550654b
Randolph, MN · 14 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55053

What planting zone is ZIP code 55053?

ZIP code 55053 (Nerstrand, MN) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Nerstrand, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55053 is May 5; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Faribault station.

When is the first frost in Nerstrand, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55053 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55053?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55053 get?

About 35.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nerstrand 4.2 E station).

How hot do summers get in Nerstrand, MN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 55053 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Port Byron at the center of ZIP 55053: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Nerstrand, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55053 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Nerstrand, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55053 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).