Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 56590 — Wendell, MN

ZIP code 56590 (Wendell, Grant 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 5.

Where ZIP 56590 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 5

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 Wendell, 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 Wendell, 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 18only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22

Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Fergus Falls, MN — 18 miles away, elevation 1,250 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 56590

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 10 – Aug 24

GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 56590 came on Apr 21 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

average
Apr 212026
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.

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 Wendell, MN.

Soil in Wendell, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56590 is Quam — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds

Organic matter7%high

Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Quam and Cathro soils, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently ponded.

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 56590; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wendell, MN

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July

Winter low0 °Faverage low, January

Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights174nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days2,356base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day15 h 45 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day8 h 38 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)

Precipitation24.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Fergus Falls, MN (18 mi away); precipitation: Orwell Dam, MN (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

565654a

Nashua, MN · 8 mi

565314b

Elbow Lake, MN · 9 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56590

What planting zone is ZIP code 56590?

ZIP code 56590 (Wendell, 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 Wendell, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56590 is May 4; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fergus Falls station.

When is the first frost in Wendell, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56590 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56590?

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 56590 get?

About 24.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Orwell Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Wendell, MN?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56590 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Quam at the center of ZIP 56590: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Wendell, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56590 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 Wendell, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56590 is 15 h 45 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).