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

Planting zone for 56686 — Williams, MN

ZIP code 56686 (Williams, Lake of the Woods County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 56686 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 15
First frostSep 26
2012 zone3a

Was 3a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Williams, 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 Williams, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Baudette Intl Airport, MN — 15 miles away, elevation 1,083 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 56686

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 56686 came on May 7 — 9 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28).

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 Williams, MN.

Soil in Williams, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56686 is Haug — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Haug muck.

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 56686; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Williams, MN

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights186nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,746base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.2 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 15 °F, low -4 °F 15°−4° JanFebruary: average high 21 °F, low -1 °F 21°−1° FebMarch: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° SepOctober: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° OctNovember: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° NovDecember: average high 21 °F, low 4 °F 21°4° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 AprMay: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.26 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Baudette Intl Airport, MN (15 mi away); precipitation: Baudette Intl Airport, MN (15 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 3b.

566733b
Roosevelt, MN · 11 mi
567113b
Angle Inlet, MN · 15 mi
566233b
Baudette, MN · 19 mi
567633b
Warroad, MN · 20 mi
567563b
Salol, MN · 31 mi
567273b
Grygla, MN · 37 mi
567613b
Wannaska, MN · 38 mi
566293b
Birchdale, MN · 39 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56686

What planting zone is ZIP code 56686?

ZIP code 56686 (Williams, 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 Williams, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56686 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Baudette Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Williams, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56686 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56686?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56686 get?

About 23.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Baudette Intl Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Williams, 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 56686 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Haug at the center of ZIP 56686: muck, very poorly drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Williams, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56686 came on May 7 in 2026, 9 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Williams, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56686 is 16 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 56686 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 56686 in zone 3a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 3b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.