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

Planting zone for 56314 — Bowlus, MN

ZIP code 56314 (Bowlus, Morrison County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 56314 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 10
First frostSep 29
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bowlus, 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 Bowlus, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season140 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Rice, MN — 12 miles away, elevation 1,060 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 56314

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
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 10) 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 56314 came on Apr 18 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 4a in Minnesota

445 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 45

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 77

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 173

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 140

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

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 °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 Bowlus, MN.

Soil in Bowlus, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56314 is Growton — sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Growton sandy loam, 2 to 4 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 56314; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bowlus, MN

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights180nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,144base 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)
Precipitation28.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall51 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 0 °F 20°0° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 3 °F 25°3° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 29 °F 54°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° NovDecember: average high 25 °F, low 9 °F 25°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.61 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 0.6❄11 JanFebruary: 0.78 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 0.8❄9 FebMarch: 1.27 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 1.3❄9 MarApril: 2.33 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 2.3❄5 AprMay: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.39 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.4❄1 OctNovember: 1.31 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 1.3❄9 NovDecember: 0.90 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 0.9❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rice, MN (12 mi away); precipitation: Royalton 5w, MN (4 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.

563404b
Holdingford, MN · 4 mi
563844b
Upsala, MN · 6 mi
563734a
Royalton, MN · 10 mi
563824a
Swanville, MN · 10 mi
563284a
Flensburg, MN · 10 mi
563754a
Saint Stephen, MN · 11 mi
563184b
Burtrum, MN · 12 mi
563104b
Avon, MN · 13 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56314

What planting zone is ZIP code 56314?

ZIP code 56314 (Bowlus, MN) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Bowlus, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56314 is May 10; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rice station.

When is the first frost in Bowlus, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56314 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 140 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56314?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56314 get?

About 28.4 inches of precipitation a year and 51 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Royalton 5w station).

How hot do summers get in Bowlus, MN?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56314 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Growton at the center of ZIP 56314: sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bowlus, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56314 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bowlus, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56314 is 15 h 44 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).