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

Planting zone for Racine, WI

Racine, WI is in USDA zones 5b to 6a across its 8 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 24.

Racine on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zones5b–6a−15 to −5 °F
ZIP codes8
Last frostApr 20
First frostOct 24
Growing season184 days

5b 1 ZIP   6a 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Racine, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season184 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Racine, WI, elevation 594 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 Racine

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 53407 came on Mar 30 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Racine, WI.

Soil in Racine, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53407 is Casco — loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Casco-Rodman complex, 12 to 20 percent slopes, eroded.

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 53407; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Racine, WI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,433base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall41 inper year; 52 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 18 °F 32°18° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 46 °F 61°46° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 56 °F 72°56° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 64 °F 79°64° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 63 °F 77°63° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 56 °F 71°56° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 43 °F 59°43° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 32 °F 46°32° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.98 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 2.0❄13 JanFebruary: 1.92 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 1.9❄11 FebMarch: 2.42 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 2.4❄6 MarApril: 3.94 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 2.53 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 2.5❄2 NovDecember: 2.09 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 2.1❄8 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Racine

534016a
−10 to −5 °F
534026a
−10 to −5 °F
534036a
−10 to −5 °F
534046a
−10 to −5 °F
534056a
−10 to −5 °F
534065b
−15 to −10 °F
534076a
−10 to −5 °F
534086a
−10 to −5 °F

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about Racine

What planting zone is Racine, WI?

Racine, WI is in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Racine, WI?

The median last spring frost is April 20 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Racine station).

When can I plant a garden in Racine, WI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 9 – Mar 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Racine, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Racine, WI get?

About 37 inches of precipitation a year and 41 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).