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

Planting zone for 53127 — Genesee Depot, WI

ZIP code 53127 (Genesee Depot, Waukesha County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 53127 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 1
First frostOct 13
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Genesee Depot, 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 Genesee Depot, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Waukesha Wwtp, WI — 7 miles away, elevation 791 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 53127

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 53127 came on Mar 30 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 Genesee Depot, WI.

Soil in Genesee Depot, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53127 is Aquents, poorly drained.

DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pits, gravel.

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 53127; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Genesee Depot, WI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights143nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,535base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.6 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 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°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 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 28 °F 45°28° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 JanFebruary: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 FebMarch: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.27 in precipitation 2.3 NovDecember: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Waukesha Wwtp, WI (7 mi away); precipitation: Mukwonago 0.5 N, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

531535b
North Prairie, WI · 2 mi
531835b
Wales, WI · 3 mi
531895b
Waukesha, WI · 5 mi
531185b
Dousman, WI · 6 mi
531495b
Mukwonago, WI · 6 mi
531885b
Waukesha, WI · 6 mi
530185b
Delafield, WI · 6 mi
531195b
Eagle, WI · 7 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 53127

What planting zone is ZIP code 53127?

ZIP code 53127 (Genesee Depot, 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 Genesee Depot, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 53127 is May 1; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waukesha Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Genesee Depot, WI?

The median first fall frost near 53127 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 53127?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 53127 get?

About 36.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mukwonago 0.5 N station).

How hot do summers get in Genesee Depot, WI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Genesee Depot, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 53127 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Genesee Depot, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 53127 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 53127 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 53127 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.