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

Planting zone for 58788 — Towner, ND

ZIP code 58788 (Towner, McHenry County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost September 22.

Where ZIP 58788 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 17
First frostSep 22
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 Towner, 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 Towner, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 22median — 10% chance by Sep 10
Growing season126 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 8 and returns around October 1.

From the NOAA station Towner 2 Ne, ND — 5 miles away, elevation 1,480 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 58788

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 28 – Aug 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 8 – Oct 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Sep 22) 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 58788 came on Apr 28 — 3 days later than 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 Towner, ND.

Soil in Towner, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58788 is Aylmer — fine sand, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Aylmer-Bantry, wet fine sands, 0 to 6 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 58788; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Towner, ND

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights201nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,087base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation17.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 19 °F, low -4 °F 19°−4° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low -1 °F 23°−1° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 13 °F 36°13° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 27 °F 54°27° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 55 °F 83°55° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 52 °F 83°52° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 43 °F 73°43° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 29 °F 57°29° OctNovember: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° NovDecember: average high 24 °F, low 2 °F 24°2° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.48 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.5❄7 JanFebruary: 0.48 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.5❄7 FebMarch: 0.78 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.8❄5 MarApril: 0.98 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 1.0❄3 AprMay: 2.34 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.3❄1 MayJune: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.56 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.6 SepOctober: 1.20 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.2❄2 OctNovember: 0.84 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.8❄5 NovDecember: 0.66 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.7❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Towner 2 Ne, ND (5 mi away); precipitation: Towner 2 Ne, ND (5 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.

587133b
Bantry, ND · 15 mi
587444a
Karlsruhe, ND · 15 mi
587414a
Granville, ND · 17 mi
583843b
Willow City, ND · 21 mi
583683b
Rugby, ND · 21 mi
587893b
Upham, ND · 22 mi
583134a
Balta, ND · 23 mi
587483b
Kramer, ND · 24 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58788

What planting zone is ZIP code 58788?

ZIP code 58788 (Towner, 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 Towner, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58788 is May 17; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Towner 2 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Towner, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58788 is September 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 126 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58788?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58788 get?

About 17.7 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Towner 2 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Towner, ND?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58788 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Aylmer at the center of ZIP 58788: fine sand, moderately well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Towner, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58788 came on Apr 28 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Towner, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58788 is 16 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).