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

Planting zone for 56096 — Waterville, MN

ZIP code 56096 (Waterville, Le Sueur County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 56096 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 2
First frostOct 4
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 Waterville, 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 Waterville, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Center, MN — 12 miles away, elevation 1,152 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 56096

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 56096 came on Mar 30 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16).

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).

Soil in Waterville, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56096 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 matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lester-Storden complex, 6 to 10 percent slopes, moderately 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 56096; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waterville, MN

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,635base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall52 inper year; 90 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 22 °F, low 5 °F 22°5° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 9 °F 26°9° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.27 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 1.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.20 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 1.2❄11 FebMarch: 2.25 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 2.3❄9 MarApril: 3.30 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.3❄3 AprMay: 4.47 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.5 MayJune: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 4.82 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 2.77 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.8❄1 OctNovember: 1.89 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 1.9❄6 NovDecember: 1.50 in precipitation, 11.9 in snowfall 1.5❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Center, MN (12 mi away); precipitation: Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Center, MN (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

560285a
Elysian, MN · 6 mi
560524b
Kilkenny, MN · 6 mi
550524b
Morristown, MN · 8 mi
550874b
Warsaw, MN · 10 mi
560635a
Madison Lake, MN · 11 mi
560175a
Cleveland, MN · 11 mi
560574b
Le Center, MN · 12 mi
560485a
Janesville, MN · 12 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56096

What planting zone is ZIP code 56096?

ZIP code 56096 (Waterville, 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 Waterville, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56096 is May 2; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Center station.

When is the first frost in Waterville, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56096 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56096?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56096 get?

About 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 52 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Center station).

How hot do summers get in Waterville, MN?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56096 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lester at the center of ZIP 56096: loam, well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Waterville, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56096 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waterville, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56096 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).