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

Planting zone for 55732 — Embarrass, MN

ZIP code 55732 (Embarrass, St. Louis County) is in USDA zone 3a: the coldest winter night averages −40 to −35 °F. The median last spring frost is May 28 and the first fall frost September 14.

Where ZIP 55732 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.

Zone3a−40 to −35 °F
Coldest night−40 to −37.2 °C
Last frostMay 28
First frostSep 14
2012 zone3a

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 3a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Embarrass, 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 Embarrass, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 14median — 10% chance by Aug 29
Growing season108 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Babbitt, MN — 14 miles away, elevation 1,480 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 55732

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 16 – May 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 7 – May 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 11 – Jun 25
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 20 – Aug 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 31 – Oct 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 28) and first fall frost (Sep 14) 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 55732 came on May 4 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (May 1).

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 3a in Minnesota

113 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −40 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 3a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 29

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 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigtooth aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 28

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack crowberry1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack hawthorn15 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −47 °Fchokecherry25 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 26

arctic raspberry1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FCanada germander3 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FCanada goldenrod4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °FCanadian lousewort1.3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −43 °Fcommon sneezeweed5 ft · blooms fall · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fcup plant6 ft · blooms late summer · medium shade tolerance · to −49 °F

Grasses 25

basin wildrye5 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblue grama1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbroadleaf rosette grass3 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FCanada wildrye3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −43 °FCarolina foxtail1.7 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °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 Embarrass, MN.

Soil in Embarrass, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55732 is Greenwood — peat, very poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Greenwood soils, 0 to 1 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 55732; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Embarrass, MN

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights223nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,347base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−20°−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 17 °F, low -7 °F 17°−7° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low -5 °F 23°−5° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 9 °F 36°9° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 23 °F 50°23° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 35 °F 64°35° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 47 °F 76°47° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° SepOctober: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° OctNovember: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° NovDecember: average high 22 °F, low 3 °F 22°3° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.22 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 AprMay: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

557823a
Soudan, MN · 10 mi
557083b
Biwabik, MN · 11 mi
557903a
Tower, MN · 11 mi
557923b
Virginia, MN · 12 mi
557053b
Aurora, MN · 15 mi
557413b
Gilbert, MN · 17 mi
557773b
Virginia, MN · 18 mi
557103b
Britt, MN · 21 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55732

What planting zone is ZIP code 55732?

ZIP code 55732 (Embarrass, MN) is in USDA hardiness zone 3a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −40 to −35 °F (−40 to −37.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Embarrass, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55732 is May 28; after June 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Babbitt station.

When is the first frost in Embarrass, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55732 is September 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 108 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55732?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 2 – Apr 16 and set transplants outside around Jun 4 – Jun 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55732 get?

About 28.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Embarrass station).

How hot do summers get in Embarrass, MN?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 55732 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Greenwood at the center of ZIP 55732: peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Embarrass, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55732 came on May 4 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (May 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Embarrass, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55732 is 16 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).