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

Planting zone for 53085 — Sheboygan Falls, WI

ZIP code 53085 (Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 53085 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 8
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sheboygan Falls, 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 Sheboygan Falls, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Sheboygan Co. Mem Airport, WI — 2 miles away, elevation 745 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 53085

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 53085 came on Apr 11 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 Sheboygan Falls, WI.

Soil in Sheboygan Falls, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53085 is Kewaunee — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kewaunee silt loam, 2 to 6 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 53085; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sheboygan Falls, WI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights151nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,210base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.4 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 27 °F, low 12 °F 27°12° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 FebMarch: 1.65 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 2.76 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

530445b
Kohler, WI · 4 mi
530816a
Sheboygan, WI · 6 mi
530935b
Waldo, WI · 7 mi
530315b
Hingham, WI · 7 mi
530735b
Plymouth, WI · 7 mi
530835b
Sheboygan, WI · 7 mi
530705b
Oostburg, WI · 8 mi
530135b
Cedar Grove, WI · 12 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 53085

What planting zone is ZIP code 53085?

ZIP code 53085 (Sheboygan Falls, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Sheboygan Falls, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 53085 is May 5; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sheboygan Co. Mem Airport station.

When is the first frost in Sheboygan Falls, WI?

The median first fall frost near 53085 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 53085?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 53085 get?

About 29.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sheboygan Co. Mem Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Sheboygan Falls, WI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 53085 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kewaunee at the center of ZIP 53085: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Sheboygan Falls, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 53085 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sheboygan Falls, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 53085 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).