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

Planting zone for 56134 — Hardwick, MN

ZIP code 56134 (Hardwick, Rock County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 56134 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 4
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 Hardwick, 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 Hardwick, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Pipestone, MN — 16 miles away, elevation 1,706 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 56134

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
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 4) 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 56134 came on Mar 25 — 22 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 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 Hardwick, MN.

Soil in Hardwick, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56134 is Marcus — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Marcus silty clay loam, 0 to 2 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 56134; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hardwick, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,611base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30 inper year, rain and melted snow

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 27 °F, low 9 °F 27°9° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 11 °F 28°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.43 in precipitation 2.4 OctNovember: 1.75 in precipitation 1.8 NovDecember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pipestone, MN (16 mi away); precipitation: Luverne, MN (9 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.

561444b
Jasper, MN · 8 mi
561284b
Edgerton, MN · 9 mi
561565a
Luverne, MN · 9 mi
561475a
Kenneth, MN · 9 mi
561534b
Leota, MN · 11 mi
561404b
Ihlen, MN · 11 mi
561585a
Magnolia, MN · 13 mi
561165a
Beaver Creek, MN · 14 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56134

What planting zone is ZIP code 56134?

ZIP code 56134 (Hardwick, 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 Hardwick, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56134 is May 4; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pipestone station.

When is the first frost in Hardwick, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56134 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56134?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56134 get?

About 30 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Luverne station).

How hot do summers get in Hardwick, MN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56134 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Marcus at the center of ZIP 56134: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hardwick, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56134 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hardwick, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56134 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).