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

Planting zone for 56142 — Ivanhoe, MN

ZIP code 56142 (Ivanhoe, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 56142 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 6
First frostOct 3
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 Ivanhoe, 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 Ivanhoe, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Astoria 4s, SD — 15 miles away, elevation 1,890 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 56142

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 56142 came on Apr 8 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Ivanhoe, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56142 is Barnes — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Barnes, occasional saturation-Buse-Svea complex, 1 to 6 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 56142; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ivanhoe, MN

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,253base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 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)
Precipitation26.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall45 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 20 °F, low 3 °F 20°3° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 7 °F 25°7° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° 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: 0.52 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 0.5❄8 JanFebruary: 0.62 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 0.6❄9 FebMarch: 1.20 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 1.2❄8 MarApril: 2.18 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 2.2❄4 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.37 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.4❄1 OctNovember: 1.03 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 1.0❄5 NovDecember: 0.49 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.5❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Astoria 4s, SD (15 mi away); precipitation: Minneota, MN (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

561135a
Arco, MN · 6 mi
561364b
Hendricks, MN · 9 mi
562805a
Porter, MN · 12 mi
561494b
Lake Benton, MN · 12 mi
561784b
Tyler, MN · 14 mi
562915a
Taunton, MN · 14 mi
561695a
Russell, MN · 14 mi
561575a
Lynd, MN · 15 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56142

What planting zone is ZIP code 56142?

ZIP code 56142 (Ivanhoe, 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 Ivanhoe, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56142 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Astoria 4s station.

When is the first frost in Ivanhoe, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56142 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 150 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56142?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56142 get?

About 26.2 inches of precipitation a year and 45 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Minneota station).

How hot do summers get in Ivanhoe, MN?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56142 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Barnes at the center of ZIP 56142: loam, well drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ivanhoe, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56142 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ivanhoe, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56142 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).