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

Planting zone for 55310 — Bird Island, MN

ZIP code 55310 (Bird Island, Renville County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 55310 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 6
First frostOct 1
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 Bird Island, 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 Bird Island, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Olivia 3e, MN — 2 miles away, elevation 1,099 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 55310

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 55310 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).

Soil in Bird Island, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55310 is Nicollet — clay loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nicollet clay loam, 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 55310; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bird Island, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,403base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall38 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 21 °F, low 2 °F 21°2° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 5 °F 27°5° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 9 °F 27°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.63 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 0.6❄7 JanFebruary: 0.83 in precipitation, 8.7 in snowfall 0.8❄9 FebMarch: 1.37 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 1.4❄7 MarApril: 2.47 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 2.5❄2 AprMay: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.20 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.2 OctNovember: 1.27 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 1.3❄4 NovDecember: 1.02 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 1.0❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Olivia 3e, MN (2 mi away); precipitation: Olivia 3e, MN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

562774b
Olivia, MN · 6 mi
553424b
Hector, MN · 7 mi
562304b
Danube, MN · 11 mi
553144b
Buffalo Lake, MN · 13 mi
553334b
Franklin, MN · 13 mi
562534b
Lake Lillian, MN · 14 mi
562704b
Morton, MN · 14 mi
562164b
Blomkest, MN · 16 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55310

What planting zone is ZIP code 55310?

ZIP code 55310 (Bird Island, 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 Bird Island, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55310 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Olivia 3e station.

When is the first frost in Bird Island, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55310 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55310?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55310 get?

About 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 38 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Olivia 3e station).

How hot do summers get in Bird Island, 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 55310 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nicollet at the center of ZIP 55310: clay loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bird Island, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55310 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 Bird Island, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55310 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).