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

Planting zone for 56122 — Chandler, MN

ZIP code 56122 (Chandler, Murray County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 56122 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 frostMay 7
First frostSep 29
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 Chandler, 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 Chandler, 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 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Lake Wilson, MN — 7 miles away, elevation 1,654 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 56122

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 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 56122 came on Mar 29 — 18 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).

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 Chandler, MN.

Soil in Chandler, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56122 is Barnes — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Barnes-Buse loams, 6 to 12 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 56122; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chandler, MN

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,361base 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)
Precipitation30.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall46 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 21 °F, low 4 °F 21°4° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 10 °F 26°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.61 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 0.6❄8 JanFebruary: 0.91 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.9❄10 FebMarch: 1.62 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 1.6❄9 MarApril: 2.95 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 3.0❄5 AprMay: 4.02 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.0 MayJune: 4.97 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.26 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 1.70 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 1.7❄4 NovDecember: 0.84 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 0.8❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lake Wilson, MN (7 mi away); precipitation: Lake Wilson, MN (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

561534b
Leota, MN · 6 mi
561415a
Iona, MN · 8 mi
561284b
Edgerton, MN · 8 mi
561555a
Lismore, MN · 9 mi
561515a
Lake Wilson, MN · 9 mi
561855a
Wilmont, MN · 10 mi
561864b
Woodstock, MN · 11 mi
561475a
Kenneth, MN · 11 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56122

What planting zone is ZIP code 56122?

ZIP code 56122 (Chandler, 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 Chandler, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56122 is May 7; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Wilson station.

When is the first frost in Chandler, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56122 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56122?

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 56122 get?

About 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 46 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Wilson station).

How hot do summers get in Chandler, MN?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56122 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Barnes at the center of ZIP 56122: loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Chandler, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56122 came on Mar 29 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chandler, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56122 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 56122 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 56122 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.