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

Planting zone for 56523 — Climax, MN

ZIP code 56523 (Climax, Polk County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 56523 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 11
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 Climax, 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 Climax, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season138 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Crookston Nw Exp Stn, MN — 16 miles away, elevation 892 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 56523

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
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 11) 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 56523 came on Apr 25 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24).

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 Climax, MN.

Soil in Climax, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56523 is Colvin — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Colvin-Perella silty clay loams, 0 to 1 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 56523; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Climax, MN

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights186nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,152base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation22.4 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 16 °F, low -4 °F 16°−4° JanFebruary: average high 20 °F, low 0 °F 20°0° FebMarch: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° OctNovember: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° NovDecember: average high 22 °F, low 5 °F 22°5° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 AprMay: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 SepOctober: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 OctNovember: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Crookston Nw Exp Stn, MN (16 mi away); precipitation: Crookston Nw Exp Stn, MN (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

565684a
Nielsville, MN · 7 mi
567234a
Fisher, MN · 12 mi
582194a
Caledonia, ND · 12 mi
582184a
Buxton, ND · 12 mi
565814a
Shelly, MN · 12 mi
582234a
Cummings, ND · 13 mi
565174a
Beltrami, MN · 13 mi
567164a
Crookston, MN · 14 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56523

What planting zone is ZIP code 56523?

ZIP code 56523 (Climax, 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 Climax, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56523 is May 11; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crookston Nw Exp Stn station.

When is the first frost in Climax, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56523 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 138 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56523?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56523 get?

About 22.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crookston Nw Exp Stn station).

How hot do summers get in Climax, 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 56523 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Colvin at the center of ZIP 56523: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Climax, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56523 came on Apr 25 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Climax, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56523 is 15 h 59 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).