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

Planting zone for 56572 — Pelican Rapids, MN

ZIP code 56572 (Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 56572 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 5
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 Pelican Rapids, 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 Pelican Rapids, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Rothsay, MN — 13 miles away, elevation 1,204 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 56572

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
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 5) 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 56572 came on Apr 22 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 Pelican Rapids, MN.

Soil in Pelican Rapids, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56572 is Rushlake — loamy sand, moderately well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rushlake-Hangaard complex.

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 56572; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pelican Rapids, MN

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,308base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year

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 17 °F 36°17° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° OctNovember: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° NovDecember: average high 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.65 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 0.7❄11 JanFebruary: 0.55 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 0.6❄8 FebMarch: 1.22 in precipitation, 9.3 in snowfall 1.2❄9 MarApril: 1.91 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 1.9❄6 AprMay: 4.01 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 MayJune: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.46 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.5❄2 OctNovember: 0.96 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 1.0❄8 NovDecember: 0.76 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 0.8❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rothsay, MN (13 mi away); precipitation: Pelican Rapids, MN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

565344a
Erhard, MN · 10 mi
565874a
Vergas, MN · 11 mi
565284a
Dent, MN · 14 mi
565334a
Elizabeth, MN · 15 mi
565794a
Rothsay, MN · 16 mi
565114a
Audubon, MN · 17 mi
565144a
Barnesville, MN · 17 mi
565024a
Detroit Lakes, MN · 19 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56572

What planting zone is ZIP code 56572?

ZIP code 56572 (Pelican Rapids, 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 Pelican Rapids, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56572 is May 5; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rothsay station.

When is the first frost in Pelican Rapids, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56572 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56572?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56572 get?

About 27.7 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pelican Rapids station).

How hot do summers get in Pelican Rapids, MN?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56572 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rushlake at the center of ZIP 56572: loamy sand, moderately well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Pelican Rapids, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56572 came on Apr 22 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pelican Rapids, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56572 is 15 h 50 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).