Frost dates for ZIP 56431 (Aitkin, 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, Aitkin 2E, MN (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)133 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4a-30 to -25°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 56431 (Aitkin)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 56431, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.
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
49°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Sandstone 6 W (41 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 51°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Sandstone 6 W (41 mi).
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 56431 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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) | Apr 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 1 |
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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 28 | Sep 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 16 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 4 | Oct 8 |
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 56431
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 28). 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 21–Apr 4 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 7–21 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 7–21 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 4–18 | May 2–23 (transplant) May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 18–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 18–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 4–18 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 4–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (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: Aitkin 2E, MN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00210059), elevation 1,215 ft, 2.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isle 12N, MN | 13 mi | May 10 | Oct 3 |
| Brainerd Crow Wing Co AP, MN | 24 mi | May 13 | Sep 27 |
| Pine Rvr Dam, MN | 26 mi | May 6 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 56431
When is the last frost in 56431?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 56431 is May 16. For a more cautious planting date, use June 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 56431?
The average first fall freeze is September 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 12.
What hardiness zone is 56431?
ZIP 56431 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 56431 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
56444 Cuyuna 56441 Trommald 56455 Riverton 56450 Garrison 56469 Palisade 56447 Emily 55760 McGregor 56465 Merrifield
Other ZIP codes in Aitkin County
55748 55752 55760 55785 55787 56342 56350 56469 All Aitkin County frost dates · Minnesota frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.