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

Planting zone for 55947 — La Crescent, MN

ZIP code 55947 (La Crescent, Houston County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 28.

Where ZIP 55947 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostApr 15
First frostOct 28
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for La Crescent, 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 La Crescent, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season194 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station La Crescent Dam 7, MN — 4 miles away, elevation 646 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 55947

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 55947 came on Mar 30 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 5a in Minnesota

521 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 92

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 201

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 164

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 5

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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 La Crescent, MN.

Soil in La Crescent, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55947 is Nodine — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nodine-Rollingstone silt loams, 12 to 20 percent slopes, eroded.

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 55947; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in La Crescent, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights125nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,027base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 12 °F 26°12° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 52 °F 68°52° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 63 °F 78°63° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 67 °F 82°67° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 65 °F 80°65° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 56 °F 72°56° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 44 °F 59°44° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 31 °F 43°31° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 19 °F 30°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: La Crescent Dam 7, MN (4 mi away); precipitation: Hokah 4nw, MN (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

546035a
La Crosse, WI · 6 mi
559415a
Hokah, MN · 7 mi
559255a
Dakota, MN · 8 mi
546505a
Onalaska, WI · 9 mi
559435a
Houston, MN · 11 mi
546015a
La Crosse, WI · 11 mi
546025a
La Crosse, WI · 12 mi
546585a
Stoddard, WI · 13 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55947

What planting zone is ZIP code 55947?

ZIP code 55947 (La Crescent, MN) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in La Crescent, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55947 is April 15; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, La Crescent Dam 7 station.

When is the first frost in La Crescent, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55947 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 194 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55947?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55947 get?

About 37.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hokah 4nw station).

How hot do summers get in La Crescent, MN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 55947 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nodine at the center of ZIP 55947: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in La Crescent, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55947 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in La Crescent, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55947 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 55947 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 55947 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.