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

Planting zone for 56636 — Deer River, MN

ZIP code 56636 (Deer River, Itasca County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 56636 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.

Zone3b−35 to −30 °F
Coldest night−37.2 to −34.4 °C
Last frostMay 16
First frostOct 1
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 Deer River, 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 Deer River, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season138 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Pokegama Dam, MN — 16 miles away, elevation 1,280 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 56636

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 56636 came on Apr 23 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

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 Deer River, MN.

Soil in Deer River, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56636 is Greenwood — peat, very poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Greenwood-Greenwood, ponded, complex, 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 56636; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Deer River, MN

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,865base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall32 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 -3 °F 18°−3° JanFebruary: average high 24 °F, low 1 °F 24°1° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° SepOctober: average high 52 °F, low 34 °F 52°34° OctNovember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° NovDecember: average high 23 °F, low 5 °F 23°5° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.80 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 0.8❄8 JanFebruary: 0.73 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.7❄5 FebMarch: 1.16 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.2❄3 MarApril: 1.83 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.8❄1 AprMay: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 MayJune: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.65 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 2.6❄1 OctNovember: 1.49 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 1.5❄6 NovDecember: 1.05 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 1.1❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pokegama Dam, MN (16 mi away); precipitation: Winnibigoshish Dam, MN (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

566313b
Bowstring, MN · 11 mi
557214a
Cohasset, MN · 14 mi
566263b
Bena, MN · 14 mi
566593b
Max, MN · 15 mi
566373b
Talmoon, MN · 16 mi
566573b
Marcell, MN · 16 mi
557304a
Grand Rapids, MN · 18 mi
557454a
Grand Rapids, MN · 18 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56636

What planting zone is ZIP code 56636?

ZIP code 56636 (Deer River, 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 Deer River, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56636 is May 16; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pokegama Dam station.

When is the first frost in Deer River, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56636 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 138 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56636?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56636 get?

About 27.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winnibigoshish Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Deer River, MN?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56636 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Greenwood at the center of ZIP 56636: peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Deer River, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56636 came on Apr 23 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Deer River, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56636 is 15 h 57 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).