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

Planting zone for 56388 — Waite Park, MN

ZIP code 56388 (Waite Park, Morrison County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 56388 is

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 3
First frostOct 7
2012 zone4a

Was 4a 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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Waite Park, 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 Waite Park, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Collegeville St John'S, MN — 8 miles away, elevation 1,211 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 56388

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 56388 came on Apr 17 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 Waite Park, MN.

Soil in Waite Park, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56388 is Hubbard — loamy sand, excessively drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.8%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Hubbard complex, Mississippi River Valley, 0 to 8 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 56388; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waite Park, MN

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights159nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,418base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.3 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 21 °F, low 4 °F 21°4° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F 78°59° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 11 °F 26°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 1.51 in precipitation 1.5 NovDecember: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Collegeville St John'S, MN (8 mi away); precipitation: Sartell 1.4 Sse, MN (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

563034b
Saint Cloud, MN · 1 mi
563874b
Waite Park, MN · 3 mi
563024b
Saint Cloud, MN · 3 mi
563724b
Saint Cloud, MN · 3 mi
563934b
Saint Cloud, MN · 3 mi
563954b
Saint Cloud, MN · 3 mi
563964b
Saint Cloud, MN · 3 mi
563974b
Saint Cloud, MN · 3 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Waite Park → · Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56388

What planting zone is ZIP code 56388?

ZIP code 56388 (Waite Park, 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 Waite Park, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56388 is May 3; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Collegeville St John'S station.

When is the first frost in Waite Park, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56388 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56388?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56388 get?

About 30.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sartell 1.4 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Waite Park, 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 56388 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hubbard at the center of ZIP 56388: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Waite Park, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56388 came on Apr 17 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waite Park, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56388 is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 56388 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 56388 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.