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

Planting zone for Stevens Point, WI

Stevens Point, WI is in USDA zones 4b to 5a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 7.

Stevens Point on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zones4b–5a−25 to −15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMay 4
First frostOct 7
Growing season155 days

4b 1 ZIP   5a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Stevens Point, 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 Stevens Point, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Stevens Pt, WI, elevation 1,079 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 Stevens Point

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 54492 came on Apr 11 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 4b in Wisconsin

486 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

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 89

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 178

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 152

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 4

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 °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 Stevens Point, WI.

Soil in Stevens Point, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54492 is Plainfield — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Plainfield loamy sand, 0 to 2 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 54492; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stevens Point, WI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,304base 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)
Precipitation34 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall49 inper year; 102 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 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 9 °F 28°9° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 14 °F 29°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.21 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 1.2❄12 JanFebruary: 1.11 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 1.1❄12 FebMarch: 1.80 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 1.8❄7 MarApril: 3.37 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 3.4❄4 AprMay: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.73 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.7 OctNovember: 1.90 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 1.9❄2 NovDecember: 1.54 in precipitation, 12.3 in snowfall 1.5❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Stevens Pt, WI (3 mi away); precipitation: Stevens Pt, WI (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Stevens Point

544815a
−20 to −15 °F
544824b
−25 to −20 °F
544925a
−20 to −15 °F

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about Stevens Point

What planting zone is Stevens Point, WI?

Stevens Point, WI is in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F; 5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Stevens Point, WI?

The median last spring frost is May 4 and the median first fall frost is October 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stevens Pt station).

When can I plant a garden in Stevens Point, WI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 23 – Apr 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Stevens Point, 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 Stevens Point, WI get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year and 49 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).