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

Planting zone for 58727 — Columbus, ND

ZIP code 58727 (Columbus, Burke County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 17.

Where ZIP 58727 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 18
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 Columbus, ND…

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 Columbus, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 17median — 10% chance by Sep 4
Growing season119 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 10 and returns around September 25.

From the NOAA station Powers Lake 1n, ND — 21 miles away, elevation 2,205 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 58727

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
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 18) 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 58727 came on Apr 24 — 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 North Dakota

249 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −35 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 3b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 20

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigtooth aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack ash65 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °F

Shrubs 42

American black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack hawthorn15 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbog birch20 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 91

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 88

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid 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 3

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fwestern white clematis1 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 Columbus, ND.

Soil in Columbus, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58727 is Miranda — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Miranda-Noonan loams, 0 to 3 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 58727; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Columbus, ND

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights208nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,770base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 11 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)
Precipitation16.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall41 inper year; 108 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 18 °F, low -3 °F 18°−3° JanFebruary: average high 21 °F, low 0 °F 21°0° FebMarch: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 27 °F 52°27° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° SepOctober: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° OctNovember: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° NovDecember: average high 22 °F, low 2 °F 22°2° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.52 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 0.5❄9 JanFebruary: 0.40 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.4❄5 FebMarch: 0.60 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.6❄5 MarApril: 0.95 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.9❄3 AprMay: 2.23 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.2❄1 MayJune: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.10 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 1.1❄3 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.5❄6 NovDecember: 0.43 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.4❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Powers Lake 1n, ND (21 mi away); precipitation: Crosby, ND (23 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.

587524a
Lignite, ND · 10 mi
587723b
Portal, ND · 10 mi
587653b
Noonan, ND · 11 mi
587553b
Mcgregor, ND · 17 mi
587373b
Flaxton, ND · 19 mi
587734a
Powers Lake, ND · 20 mi
587953b
Wildrose, ND · 22 mi
587304a
Crosby, ND · 23 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58727

What planting zone is ZIP code 58727?

ZIP code 58727 (Columbus, ND) 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 Columbus, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58727 is May 18; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Powers Lake 1n station.

When is the first frost in Columbus, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58727 is September 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 119 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58727?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58727 get?

About 16.1 inches of precipitation a year and 41 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crosby station).

How hot do summers get in Columbus, ND?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58727 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Miranda at the center of ZIP 58727: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Columbus, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58727 came on Apr 24 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 Columbus, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58727 is 16 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).