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

Planting zone for 56458 — Lake George, MN

ZIP code 56458 (Lake George, Hubbard County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 56458 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.

Zone3b−35 to −30 °F
Coldest night−37.2 to −34.4 °C
Last frostMay 18
First frostSep 27
2012 zone3b

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 3b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lake George, 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 Lake George, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 12
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Itasca Univ Of Minn, MN — 9 miles away, elevation 1,490 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 56458

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
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 18) 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 56458 came on Apr 23 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26).

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 3b in Minnesota

287 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Minnesota, and rated by the USDA to survive −35 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 3b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 33

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 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigtooth aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 50

Allegheny 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 mountain ash40 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 102

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 93

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

Vines 2

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Lake George, MN.

Soil in Lake George, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56458 is Eagleview — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eagleview and Menahga soils, 1 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 56458; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake George, MN

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights198nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,796base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall52 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 17 °F, low -4 °F 17°−4° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low -2 °F 23°−2° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 12 °F 36°12° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 26 °F 51°26° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° SepOctober: average high 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° OctNovember: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° NovDecember: average high 22 °F, low 5 °F 22°5° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.75 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 0.8❄10 JanFebruary: 0.72 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 0.7❄8 FebMarch: 1.22 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 1.2❄8 MarApril: 2.00 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 2.0❄6 AprMay: 3.18 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 MayJune: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.85 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.9❄1 OctNovember: 1.32 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 1.3❄9 NovDecember: 1.12 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 1.1❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Itasca Univ Of Minn, MN (9 mi away); precipitation: Itasca Univ Of Minn, MN (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 3b.

564613b
Laporte, MN · 7 mi
564703b
Park Rapids, MN · 12 mi
564673b
Nevis, MN · 17 mi
566783b
Solway, MN · 17 mi
566193b
Bemidji, MN · 20 mi
565753b
Ponsford, MN · 23 mi
566213b
Bagley, MN · 24 mi
565703b
Osage, MN · 26 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56458

What planting zone is ZIP code 56458?

ZIP code 56458 (Lake George, MN) is in USDA hardiness zone 3b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −35 to −30 °F (−37.2 to −34.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Lake George, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56458 is May 18; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Itasca Univ Of Minn station.

When is the first frost in Lake George, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56458 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 130 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56458?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56458 get?

About 27.6 inches of precipitation a year and 52 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Itasca Univ Of Minn station).

How hot do summers get in Lake George, MN?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56458 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Eagleview at the center of ZIP 56458: loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Lake George, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56458 came on Apr 23 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake George, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56458 is 15 h 55 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).