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

Planting zone for 56296 — Wheaton, MN

ZIP code 56296 (Wheaton, Traverse County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 56296 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 1
First frostOct 9
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 Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Wheaton, MN — 2 miles away, elevation 1,017 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 56296

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 56296 came on Apr 19 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 Wheaton, MN.

Soil in Wheaton, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56296 is Buse — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Buse-Formdale clay loams, 6 to 14 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 56296; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wheaton, MN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,648base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 40 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall43 inper year; 99 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 20 °F, low 3 °F 20°3° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 6 °F 25°6° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 23 °F 41°23° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 10 °F 26°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.78 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 0.8❄8 JanFebruary: 0.71 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.7❄9 FebMarch: 1.18 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 1.2❄7 MarApril: 2.30 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 2.3❄5 AprMay: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.27 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 1.08 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 1.1❄4 NovDecember: 0.82 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 0.8❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wheaton, MN (2 mi away); precipitation: Wheaton, MN (2 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.

572604b
Rosholt, SD · 12 mi
562364b
Dumont, MN · 12 mi
562744b
Norcross, MN · 12 mi
565834a
Tintah, MN · 13 mi
562484b
Herman, MN · 17 mi
580304a
Fairmount, ND · 17 mi
565654a
Nashua, MN · 17 mi
562404b
Graceville, MN · 18 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56296

What planting zone is ZIP code 56296?

ZIP code 56296 (Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56296 is May 1; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wheaton station.

When is the first frost in Wheaton, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56296 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56296?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56296 get?

About 25.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wheaton station).

How hot do summers get in Wheaton, 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 56296 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Buse at the center of ZIP 56296: clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Wheaton, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56296 came on Apr 19 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wheaton, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56296 is 15 h 44 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).