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

Planting zone for 56044 — Henderson, MN

ZIP code 56044 (Henderson, Sibley County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 56044 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 frostApr 24
First frostOct 15
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 Henderson, 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 Henderson, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season170 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Gaylord, MN — 13 miles away, elevation 1,020 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 56044

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 56044 came on Apr 11 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 Henderson, MN.

Soil in Henderson, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56044 is Lester — loam, well drained.

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

Map unit: Lester-Belview complex, 22 to 40 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 56044; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Henderson, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights161nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,710base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year; 83 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 21 °F, low 6 °F 21°6° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 9 °F 26°9° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 13 °F 27°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.09 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 1.1❄7 JanFebruary: 1.02 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 1.0❄10 FebMarch: 1.93 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.48 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.5❄2 AprMay: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.63 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.6 OctNovember: 1.76 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 1.8❄3 NovDecember: 1.29 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 1.3❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gaylord, MN (13 mi away); precipitation: Montgomery, MN (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

553384b
Green Isle, MN · 8 mi
553074b
Arlington, MN · 8 mi
560584b
Le Sueur, MN · 9 mi
560114b
Belle Plaine, MN · 9 mi
553394b
Hamburg, MN · 11 mi
553344b
Gaylord, MN · 12 mi
553684b
Norwood Young America, MN · 12 mi
560824b
Saint Peter, MN · 15 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56044

What planting zone is ZIP code 56044?

ZIP code 56044 (Henderson, 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 Henderson, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56044 is April 24; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gaylord station.

When is the first frost in Henderson, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56044 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 170 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56044?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56044 get?

About 34.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montgomery station).

How hot do summers get in Henderson, MN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56044 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lester at the center of ZIP 56044: loam, well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Henderson, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56044 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Henderson, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56044 is 15 h 34 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).