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

Planting zone for 55968 — Reads Landing, MN

ZIP code 55968 (Reads Landing, Wabasha County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 55968 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 7
First frostOct 2
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 Reads Landing, 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 Reads Landing, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season148 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Theilman 1ssw, MN — 9 miles away, elevation 755 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 55968

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 55968 came on Mar 30 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Reads Landing, MN.

Soil in Reads Landing, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 55968 is Dubuque — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dubuque silt loam, 25 to 35 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 55968; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Reads Landing, MN

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,582base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall40 inper year; 83 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 24 °F, low 4 °F 24°4° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 8 °F 30°8° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.05 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 1.1❄10 JanFebruary: 1.08 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 1.1❄9 FebMarch: 1.91 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.46 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.5❄2 AprMay: 4.58 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.6 MayJune: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.50 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.5 OctNovember: 1.86 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.9❄2 NovDecember: 1.29 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 1.3❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Theilman 1ssw, MN (9 mi away); precipitation: Wabasha, MN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

559814b
Wabasha, MN · 3 mi
547594b
Pepin, WI · 7 mi
547564b
Nelson, WI · 9 mi
559454b
Kellogg, MN · 9 mi
547694b
Stockholm, WI · 10 mi
550414b
Lake City, MN · 12 mi
546104b
Alma, WI · 13 mi
559574b
Millville, MN · 14 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 55968

What planting zone is ZIP code 55968?

ZIP code 55968 (Reads Landing, 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 Reads Landing, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 55968 is May 7; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Theilman 1ssw station.

When is the first frost in Reads Landing, MN?

The median first fall frost near 55968 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 148 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 55968?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 55968 get?

About 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wabasha station).

How hot do summers get in Reads Landing, MN?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 55968 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dubuque at the center of ZIP 55968: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Reads Landing, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 55968 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Reads Landing, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 55968 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).