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

Planting zone for 56520 — Breckenridge, MN

ZIP code 56520 (Breckenridge, Wilkin County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 56520 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 4
First frostOct 3
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 Breckenridge, 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 Breckenridge, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Breckenridge 3e, MN — 2 miles away, elevation 971 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 56520

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 56520 came on Apr 21 — 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 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 Breckenridge, MN.

Soil in Breckenridge, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56520 is Antler — clay loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Antler clay loam, 0 to 2 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 56520; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Breckenridge, MN

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,421base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.2 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 19 °F, low -1 °F 19°−1° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low 2 °F 23°2° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° NovDecember: average high 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.14 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Breckenridge 3e, MN (2 mi away); precipitation: Abercrombie 0.2 Nw, ND (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

580764a
Wahpeton, ND · 5 mi
565434a
Foxhome, MN · 8 mi
580754a
Wahpeton, ND · 11 mi
565534a
Kent, MN · 11 mi
565224a
Campbell, MN · 12 mi
565794a
Rothsay, MN · 14 mi
580014a
Abercrombie, ND · 16 mi
565334a
Elizabeth, MN · 19 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56520

What planting zone is ZIP code 56520?

ZIP code 56520 (Breckenridge, 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 Breckenridge, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56520 is May 4; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Breckenridge 3e station.

When is the first frost in Breckenridge, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56520 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56520?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56520 get?

About 25.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Abercrombie 0.2 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Breckenridge, MN?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56520 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Antler at the center of ZIP 56520: clay loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Breckenridge, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56520 came on Apr 21 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 Breckenridge, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56520 is 15 h 48 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).