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

Planting zone for 56438 — Browerville, MN

ZIP code 56438 (Browerville, Todd County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 56438 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 13
First frostSep 27
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 Browerville, 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 Browerville, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Long Prairie, MN — 12 miles away, elevation 1,339 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 56438

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 56438 came on Apr 21 — about the same time as 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 Browerville, MN.

Soil in Browerville, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56438 is Hubbard — loamy sand, excessively drained.

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: Hubbard loamy sand, 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 56438; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Browerville, MN

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights179nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,952base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 112 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 18 °F, low -1 °F 18°−1° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low 3 °F 23°3° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° OctNovember: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° NovDecember: average high 23 °F, low 7 °F 23°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.98 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 1.0❄10 JanFebruary: 0.92 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.9❄9 FebMarch: 1.54 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 1.5❄9 MarApril: 2.73 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 2.7❄6 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.92 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.9❄2 OctNovember: 1.46 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 1.5❄7 NovDecember: 1.13 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 1.1❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Long Prairie, MN (12 mi away); precipitation: Long Prairie, MN (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

564404a
Clarissa, MN · 7 mi
564434a
Cushing, MN · 12 mi
563474a
Long Prairie, MN · 12 mi
564464a
Eagle Bend, MN · 13 mi
564374a
Bertha, MN · 14 mi
564754a
Randall, MN · 14 mi
564344a
Aldrich, MN · 15 mi
563824a
Swanville, MN · 19 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56438

What planting zone is ZIP code 56438?

ZIP code 56438 (Browerville, 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 Browerville, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56438 is May 13; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Long Prairie station.

When is the first frost in Browerville, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56438 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56438?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56438 get?

About 31 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Long Prairie station).

How hot do summers get in Browerville, MN?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56438 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hubbard at the center of ZIP 56438: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Browerville, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56438 came on Apr 21 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Browerville, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56438 is 15 h 46 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).