Frost dates for ZIP 55803 (Rice Lake, MN)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Island Lake 4E, MN (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)129 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4a-30 to -25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 55803 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 3 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 1 | Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 21 | Sep 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 7 | Oct 7 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 55803
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 27). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 12–26 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 12–26 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 30–May 21 (transplant) Apr 23–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 21 (transplant) Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 9–23 | May 7–28 (transplant) May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 16–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jun 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 11–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 23–30 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 23–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 23–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 9–23 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 26–Mar 12 | May 28–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 9–23 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Island Lake 4E, MN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00214093), elevation 1,410 ft, 0.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 15 mi | May 13 | Oct 1 |
| Duluth NWS, MN | 15 mi | May 18 | Oct 1 |
| Two Harbors 7NW, MN | 18 mi | May 27 | Sep 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 55803
When is the last frost in 55803?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 55803 is May 21. For a more cautious planting date, use June 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 55803?
The average first fall freeze is September 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 13.
What hardiness zone is 55803?
ZIP 55803 is in USDA zone 4a (-30 to -25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 55803 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
55804 Duluth 55609 Knife River 55814 Hermantown 55717 55811 Hermantown 55812 Duluth 55805 Duluth 55724
Other ZIP codes in St. Louis County
55602 55702 55703 55705 55706 55708 55710 55711 55713 55717 55719 55723 55724 55725 55732 55734 55736 55738 55741 55746 55750 55751 55758 55763 All St. Louis County frost dates · Minnesota frost dates
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