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

Planting zone for 55572 — Rockford, MN

ZIP code 55572 (Rockford, Hennepin County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 55572 is

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 frostApr 30
First frostOct 8
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 Rockford, 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 Rockford, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Delano, MN — 4 miles away, elevation 974 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 55572

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 55572 came on Apr 11 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Rockford, MN.

Soil in Rockford, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55572 is Crowfork — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Crowfork loamy sand, 1 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 55572; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rockford, MN

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,592base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.6 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 23 °F, low 4 °F 23°4° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 7 °F 28°7° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.72 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 0.7❄8 JanFebruary: 0.85 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 0.8❄10 FebMarch: 1.46 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 1.5❄7 MarApril: 2.72 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 2.7❄4 AprMay: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.49 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.5 OctNovember: 1.62 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 1.6❄6 NovDecember: 1.01 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 1.0❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Delano, MN (4 mi away); precipitation: Rockford, MN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

553734b
Rockford, MN · <1 mi
553574b
Loretto, MN · 3 mi
553284b
Delano, MN · 5 mi
553414b
Hanover, MN · 6 mi
553594b
Maple Plain, MN · 6 mi
553404b
Hamel, MN · 8 mi
553134b
Buffalo, MN · 8 mi
553764b
Saint Michael, MN · 9 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Rockford → · Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55572

What planting zone is ZIP code 55572?

ZIP code 55572 (Rockford, 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 Rockford, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55572 is April 30; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Delano station.

When is the first frost in Rockford, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55572 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55572?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55572 get?

About 30.6 inches of precipitation a year and 45 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rockford station).

How hot do summers get in Rockford, MN?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 55572 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Crowfork at the center of ZIP 55572: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Rockford, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55572 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rockford, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55572 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).