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

Planting zone for 56593 — Wolf Lake, MN

ZIP code 56593 (Wolf Lake, Becker County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 56593 is

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 4
First frostOct 3
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 Wolf Lake, 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 Wolf Lake, 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 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Detroit Lakes 12e, MN — 12 miles away, elevation 1,542 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 56593

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 56593 came on Apr 22 — 4 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 Wolf Lake, MN.

Soil in Wolf Lake, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56593 is Egglake — loam, poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Egglake loam.

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 56593; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wolf Lake, MN

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,949base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.9 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 17 °F, low -2 °F 17°−2° JanFebruary: average high 21 °F, low 2 °F 21°2° FebMarch: average high 34 °F, low 16 °F 34°16° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 54 °F 73°54° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 48 °F 67°48° SepOctober: average high 52 °F, low 35 °F 52°35° OctNovember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° NovDecember: average high 22 °F, low 7 °F 22°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 1.00 in precipitation 1.0 MarApril: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 AprMay: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 2.40 in precipitation 2.4 OctNovember: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Detroit Lakes 12e, MN (12 mi away); precipitation: Park Rapids Municipal Airport, MN (15 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

565703b
Osage, MN · 8 mi
564644a
Menahga, MN · 12 mi
565444a
Frazee, MN · 12 mi
565734a
Perham, MN · 16 mi
565784a
Rochert, MN · 17 mi
565753b
Ponsford, MN · 17 mi
565674a
New York Mills, MN · 18 mi
564703b
Park Rapids, MN · 20 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56593

What planting zone is ZIP code 56593?

ZIP code 56593 (Wolf Lake, 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 Wolf Lake, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56593 is May 4; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Detroit Lakes 12e station.

When is the first frost in Wolf Lake, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56593 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 150 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56593?

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 56593 get?

About 23.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Park Rapids Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Wolf Lake, MN?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56593 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Egglake at the center of ZIP 56593: loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

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

Spring leaf-out near 56593 came on Apr 22 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wolf Lake, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56593 is 15 h 52 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).