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

Planting zone for 55342 — Hector, MN

ZIP code 55342 (Hector, 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 55342 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 Hector, 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 Hector, 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 — 9 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 55342

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 55342 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 Hector, MN.

Soil in Hector, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55342 is Webster — clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Webster clay 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 55342; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hector, 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)
Precipitation31.3 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 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

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 NovDecember: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Olivia 3e, MN (9 mi away); precipitation: Bird Is 7sse, MN (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

553104b
Bird Island, MN · 7 mi
553144b
Buffalo Lake, MN · 7 mi
553854b
Stewart, MN · 12 mi
562774b
Olivia, MN · 13 mi
553334b
Franklin, MN · 14 mi
562284b
Cosmos, MN · 15 mi
553324b
Fairfax, MN · 15 mi
562534b
Lake Lillian, MN · 16 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55342

What planting zone is ZIP code 55342?

ZIP code 55342 (Hector, 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 Hector, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55342 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 Hector, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55342 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55342?

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 55342 get?

About 31.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bird Is 7sse station).

How hot do summers get in Hector, 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 55342 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Webster at the center of ZIP 55342: clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hector, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55342 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 Hector, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55342 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).