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

Planting zone for 56681 — Squaw Lake, MN

ZIP code 56681 (Squaw Lake, Itasca County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 24 and the first fall frost September 17.

Where ZIP 56681 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 24
First frostSep 17
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 Squaw 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 Squaw Lake, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 17median — 10% chance by Sep 1
Growing season115 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 13 and returns around September 28.

From the NOAA station Blackduck, MN — 14 miles away, elevation 1,339 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 56681

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 12 – May 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
BeansSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 23 – Aug 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 3 – Oct 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 24) and first fall frost (Sep 17) 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 56681 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 Squaw Lake, MN.

Soil in Squaw Lake, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56681 is Warba — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Warba very fine sandy loam, 1 to 8 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 56681; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Squaw Lake, MN

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights196nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,635base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 26 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

−20°−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 18 °F, low -9 °F 18°−9° JanFebruary: average high 24 °F, low -4 °F 24°−4° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 10 °F 37°10° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° SepOctober: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° OctNovember: average high 36 °F, low 16 °F 36°16° NovDecember: average high 23 °F, low 1 °F 23°1° 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: Blackduck, MN (14 mi away); precipitation: Winnibigoshish Dam, MN (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 3b.

566633b
Pennington, MN · 9 mi
566593b
Max, MN · 10 mi
566263b
Bena, MN · 13 mi
566303b
Blackduck, MN · 17 mi
566473b
Hines, MN · 19 mi
566333b
Cass Lake, MN · 20 mi
566613b
Northome, MN · 20 mi
566603b
Mizpah, MN · 30 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56681

What planting zone is ZIP code 56681?

ZIP code 56681 (Squaw 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 Squaw Lake, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56681 is May 24; after June 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Blackduck station.

When is the first frost in Squaw Lake, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56681 is September 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 115 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56681?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 29 – Apr 12 and set transplants outside around May 31 – Jun 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56681 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 Squaw Lake, 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 56681 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Warba at the center of ZIP 56681: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

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

Spring leaf-out near 56681 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 Squaw Lake, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56681 is 15 h 59 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).