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

Planting zone for 56715 — Brooks, MN

ZIP code 56715 (Brooks, Red Lake County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 56715 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 9
First frostSep 30
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 Brooks, 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 Brooks, MN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Red Lake Falls, MN — 16 miles away, elevation 1,037 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 56715

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 56715 came on Apr 27 — 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 Brooks, MN.

Soil in Brooks, MN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 56715 is Vallers — loam, poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Vallers loam, 0 to 2 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 56715; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brooks, MN

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,088base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation24.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall50 inper year; 123 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 15 °F, low -3 °F 15°−3° JanFebruary: average high 20 °F, low 0 °F 20°0° FebMarch: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° SepOctober: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° OctNovember: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° NovDecember: average high 21 °F, low 6 °F 21°6° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.60 in precipitation, 10.1 in snowfall 0.6❄10 JanFebruary: 0.57 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 0.6❄9 FebMarch: 0.89 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 0.9❄8 MarApril: 1.32 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 1.3❄4 AprMay: 2.85 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.9 MayJune: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 2.09 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 2.1❄2 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.8❄6 NovDecember: 0.78 in precipitation, 12.4 in snowfall 0.8❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Red Lake Falls, MN (16 mi away); precipitation: Red Lake Falls, MN (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

567483b
Plummer, MN · 8 mi
565353b
Erskine, MN · 10 mi
567423b
Oklee, MN · 10 mi
565563b
Mcintosh, MN · 10 mi
566843b
Trail, MN · 12 mi
567364a
Mentor, MN · 14 mi
566463b
Gully, MN · 15 mi
567543b
Saint Hilaire, MN · 16 mi

Minnesota planting zones →

Questions about 56715

What planting zone is ZIP code 56715?

ZIP code 56715 (Brooks, 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 Brooks, MN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 56715 is May 9; after May 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Lake Falls station.

When is the first frost in Brooks, MN?

The median first fall frost near 56715 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 142 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 56715?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 56715 get?

About 24.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Lake Falls station).

How hot do summers get in Brooks, MN?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 56715 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Vallers at the center of ZIP 56715: loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Brooks, MN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 56715 came on Apr 27 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 Brooks, MN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 56715 is 16 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).