Frost Dates for North Branch, MN 55056
Last spring frost May 9 · First fall frost September 30 · 144 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 55056 has about 14,800 people.
Moderate season: 144 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 25–May 22 (27 days). Fall frost risk spans September 18–October 11 (23 days).
Frost probability for 55056
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 22 | May 9 | April 25 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 18 | September 30 | October 11 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at CAMBRIDGE (22.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 144-day season in North Branch
In North Branch (144 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 4 | May 23–May 30 | 102 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 102 available after May 23. | May 31 |
| Pepper | Mar 28 | May 23–May 30 | 102 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 102 available after May 23. | Jun 5 |
| Lettuce | Mar 14 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 18–Apr 25 | 186 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 186 available after Apr 18. | Jul 29 |
| Cucumber | Apr 18 | May 23–May 30 | 116 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 116 available after May 23. | Jul 4 |
| Beans | — | May 16–May 30 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 16. | Jul 11 |
| Peas | — | Mar 14–May 23 | 207 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 207 available after Mar 14. | Jul 20 |
| Zucchini | Apr 25 | May 23–May 30 | 116 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 116 available after May 23. | Jul 9 |
| Onion | Feb 14 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 179 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 11. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 14–May 2 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 14 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Kale | Feb 28 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 14 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 179 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 11. | Jul 5 |
| Cabbage | Mar 14 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 193 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 11. | Jul 29 |
| Radish | — | Mar 14–Jun 6 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 14 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 29 |
| Beets | — | Mar 14–Jun 6 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 14 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 25–May 2 | 165 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 165 available after Apr 25. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 30 | 249 | overwinter: Plant Sep 30 to Oct 21; harvest the following summer. | Oct 21 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 4–May 30 | 200 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 4; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | 116 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 116 available after May 16. | Jun 12 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 25 | May 23–May 23 | 109 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 109 available after May 23. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 28 | May 2–May 16 | 158 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 158 available after May 2. | Jul 10 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 14 | Apr 25–Apr 25 | 165 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 25 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 14–Jun 6 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 14 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 14 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 193 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 11. | Jun 29 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 25 | May 23–May 30 | 109 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 109 available after May 23. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 21 | May 23–May 30 | 102 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 102 available after May 23. | Jun 10 |
| Okra | Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | 123 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 123 available after May 16. | Jul 9 |
| Basil | Apr 4 | May 30–May 30 | 109 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 109 available after May 30. | Jul 4 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 11–May 2 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Parsley | Feb 28 | May 16–May 23 | 144 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 144 available after May 16. | Jul 15 |
| Celery | Feb 28 | May 16–May 30 | 144 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 144 available after May 16. | May 26 |
| Scallions | Feb 28 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 18 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 28–Apr 11 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 28 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 11 | May 2–May 9 | 158 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Collards | Feb 28 | Apr 11–Apr 25 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 25 | May 23–May 30 | 102 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 102 available after May 23. | May 26 |
| Chives | Feb 14 | May 16–May 23 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after May 16. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 14–Jun 6 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 14 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Oregano | Feb 28 | May 16–May 23 | 158 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 158 available after May 16. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 14 | May 16–May 23 | 144 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 144 available after May 16. | — |
| Sage | Mar 14 | May 16–May 23 | 158 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 158 available after May 16. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 28 | May 16–May 23 | 158 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 158 available after May 16. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 28 | Apr 25–May 9 | 165 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 25 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Cosmos | Apr 11 | May 9–May 23 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 9. | Jul 4 |
| Lavender | Feb 14 | May 9–May 23 | 165 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 165 available after May 9. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 28 | May 9–May 16 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 14 |
| Melons | Apr 25 | May 23–May 30 | 102 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 102 available after May 23. | May 26 |
| Mint | — | May 9–May 23 | 165 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 165 available after May 9. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 11 | May 9–May 16 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 16–May 30 | 123 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 123 available after May 16. | Jun 29 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 25 | May 23–May 30 | 109 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 109 available after May 23. | May 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 9–May 23 | 130 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 130 available after May 9. | Jun 24 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 14 | May 16–May 23 | 109 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 109 available after May 16. | Jun 5 |
| Watermelon | Apr 25 | May 16–May 23 | 109 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 109 available after May 16. | May 31 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 25 | May 23–May 30 | 116 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 116 available after May 23. | Jul 9 |
| Zinnias | Apr 11 | May 9–May 23 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 9. | Jul 4 |
Month by month in North Branch
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 14), Lavender (Feb 14), Onion (Feb 14), Rosemary (Feb 14), Celery (Feb 28), Collards (Feb 28), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 14), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 14), Cabbage (Mar 14), Lettuce (Mar 14), Sage (Mar 14), Swiss Chard (Mar 14), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 14), Beets (Mar 14), Dill (Mar 14), Peas (Mar 14), Radish (Mar 14), Spinach (Mar 14), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 4), Tomato (Apr 4), Bok Choy (Apr 11), Corn (Apr 11), Cosmos (Apr 11), Nasturtiums (Apr 11), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 11), Turnip (Apr 11), Carrots (Apr 18), Potatoes (Apr 25). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 11), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 11), Cabbage (Apr 11), Collards (Apr 11), Kale (Apr 11), Lettuce (Apr 11), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 4). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 9), Beans (May 16), Pole Beans (May 16). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 2), Cauliflower (May 2), Cosmos (May 9), Lavender (May 9), Marigolds (May 9), Mint (May 9), +25 more. Last frost around May 9. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 26), Celery (May 26), Melons (May 26), Spaghetti Squash (May 28), Tomato (May 31), Watermelon (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 5), Tomatillos (Jun 5), Eggplant (Jun 10), Corn (Jun 12), Sunflowers (Jun 24), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 29), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 4), Cosmos (Jul 4), Cucumber (Jul 4), Zinnias (Jul 4), Broccoli (Jul 5), Nasturtiums (Jul 9), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 4), Cilantro (Aug 4), Collards (Aug 8), Scallions (Aug 8), Bok Choy (Aug 9), Lettuce (Aug 9), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 30). First frost around September 30. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 21). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for North Branch, MN (ZIP 55056)?
The median last spring frost date for North Branch, MN (ZIP code 55056) is around May 9. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 25; one in ten it runs past May 22.
What is the first fall frost date in North Branch, MN?
The median first fall frost date for North Branch, MN is around September 30. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 18 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in North Branch, MN?
The frost-free growing season in North Branch is about 144 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In North Branch (144 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is North Branch, MN?
North Branch, MN is in USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in North Branch, MN?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 4 and plant out May 23 in North Branch. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in North Branch?
Two: plant Apr 11 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7.
When do I plant garlic in North Branch?
Sep 30 to Oct 21; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Forest Lake (ZIP 55025) has 159 frost-free days, 15 more than North Branch (ZIP 55056). See Forest Lake ZIP 55025 frost dates
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