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

Planting zone for Green Bay, WI

Green Bay, WI is in USDA zone 5b across its 12 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 9.

Green Bay on the zone map

Outlined: its 7 ZIP code areas · 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes12
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 9
Growing season161 days

5b 12 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Green Bay, WI…

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 Green Bay, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Green Bay, WI, elevation 682 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 Green Bay

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 54301 came on Apr 15 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 5b in Wisconsin

518 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 93

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 197

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 159

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Green Bay, WI.

Soil in Green Bay, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54301 is Oshkosh — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Oshkosh silt loam, 2 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 54301; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Green Bay, WI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,428base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 11 °F 26°11° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 24 °F 40°24° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 29 °F 44°29° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 18 °F 31°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.44 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 FebMarch: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Green Bay, WI (5 mi away); precipitation: Green Bay 3.8 Sse, WI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Green Bay

543015b
−15 to −10 °F
543025b
−15 to −10 °F
543035b
−15 to −10 °F
543045b
−15 to −10 °F
543055b
−15 to −10 °F
543065b
−15 to −10 °F
543075b
−15 to −10 °F
543085b
−15 to −10 °F
543115b
−15 to −10 °F
543135b
−15 to −10 °F
543245b
−15 to −10 °F
543445b
−15 to −10 °F

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about Green Bay

What planting zone is Green Bay, WI?

Green Bay, WI is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Green Bay, WI?

The median last spring frost is April 30 and the median first fall frost is October 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Green Bay station).

When can I plant a garden in Green Bay, WI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 19 – Apr 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Green Bay, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Green Bay, WI get?

About 32.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).