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

Planting zone for 55575 — Howard Lake, MN

ZIP code 55575 (Howard Lake, 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 10.

Where ZIP 55575 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 10
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 Howard Lake, 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 Howard Lake, 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 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Dassel 3se, MN — 10 miles away, elevation 1,066 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 55575

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 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 55575 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 Howard Lake, MN.

Soil in Howard Lake, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55575 is Reedslake — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Reedslake-Le Sueur complex, 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 55575; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Howard Lake, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,636base 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)
Precipitation28.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall41 inper year; 89 days with snow on the ground

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 26 °F, low 6 °F 26°6° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 11 °F 26°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.58 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.6❄6 JanFebruary: 0.85 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 0.8❄11 FebMarch: 1.38 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 1.4❄6 MarApril: 2.70 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 2.7❄5 AprMay: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.47 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.5❄1 OctNovember: 1.25 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 1.3❄3 NovDecember: 0.85 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 0.8❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dassel 3se, MN (10 mi away); precipitation: Dassel 3se, MN (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

553494b
Howard Lake, MN · <1 mi
553904b
Waverly, MN · 5 mi
553214b
Cokato, MN · 6 mi
553954b
Winsted, MN · 7 mi
553634b
Montrose, MN · 8 mi
553814b
Silver Lake, MN · 11 mi
553254b
Dassel, MN · 12 mi
553544b
Lester Prairie, MN · 12 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Howard Lake → · Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55575

What planting zone is ZIP code 55575?

ZIP code 55575 (Howard Lake, 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 Howard Lake, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55575 is April 30; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dassel 3se station.

When is the first frost in Howard Lake, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55575 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55575?

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 55575 get?

About 28.7 inches of precipitation a year and 41 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dassel 3se station).

How hot do summers get in Howard Lake, 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 55575 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Reedslake at the center of ZIP 55575: loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Howard Lake, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55575 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 Howard Lake, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55575 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).