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

Planting zone for 53176 — Springfield, WI

ZIP code 53176 (Springfield, Walworth County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 53176 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 frostApr 25
First frostOct 21
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 Springfield, 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 Springfield, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Lake Geneva Wwtp, WI — 3 miles away, elevation 846 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 53176

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 53176 came on Mar 30 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 Springfield, WI.

Soil in Springfield, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53176 is Elburn — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Elburn silt loam, gravelly substratum, 0 to 3 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 53176; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Springfield, WI

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,091base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 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
Snowfall40 inper year; 60 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 21 °F 35°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.90 in precipitation, 13.9 in snowfall 1.9❄14 JanFebruary: 1.89 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 1.9❄8 FebMarch: 2.29 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 2.3❄5 MarApril: 3.45 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.5❄3 AprMay: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.01 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 2.48 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 2.5❄3 NovDecember: 2.31 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 2.3❄7 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

531485b
Lyons, WI · 3 mi
531475b
Lake Geneva, WI · 6 mi
531055b
Burlington, WI · 7 mi
531575b
Pell Lake, WI · 8 mi
531215b
Elkhorn, WI · 8 mi
531915b
Williams Bay, WI · 8 mi
531595b
Powers Lake, WI · 8 mi
531285b
Genoa City, WI · 9 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 53176

What planting zone is ZIP code 53176?

ZIP code 53176 (Springfield, 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 Springfield, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 53176 is April 25; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Geneva Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Springfield, WI?

The median first fall frost near 53176 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 53176?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 53176 get?

About 37 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Geneva Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Springfield, WI?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 53176 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Elburn at the center of ZIP 53176: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Springfield, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 53176 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Springfield, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 53176 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).