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

Planting zone for 53586 — Shullsburg, WI

ZIP code 53586 (Shullsburg, Lafayette County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 53586 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Shullsburg, 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 Shullsburg, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Darlington Wwtp, WI — 9 miles away, elevation 853 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 53586

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 53586 came on Mar 28 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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).

Soil in Shullsburg, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53586 is Tama — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tama silt loam, driftless, 2 to 6 percent slopes, moderately 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 53586; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shullsburg, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,578base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 8 °F 27°8° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.31 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 1.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.43 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 1.4❄9 FebMarch: 2.02 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 2.0❄5 MarApril: 3.89 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 4.18 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.2❄1 MayJune: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 2.80 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 2.8❄1 OctNovember: 2.35 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 2.4❄2 NovDecember: 1.69 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 1.7❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Darlington Wwtp, WI (9 mi away); precipitation: Darlington Wwtp, WI (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

538035a
Benton, WI · 7 mi
610755a
Scales Mound, IL · 8 mi
610015a
Apple River, IL · 9 mi
535415a
Gratiot, WI · 10 mi
535305a
Darlington, WI · 10 mi
535105a
Belmont, WI · 13 mi
538075a
Cuba City, WI · 13 mi
610365a
Galena, IL · 13 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 53586

What planting zone is ZIP code 53586?

ZIP code 53586 (Shullsburg, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Shullsburg, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 53586 is May 3; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Darlington Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Shullsburg, WI?

The median first fall frost near 53586 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 53586?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 53586 get?

About 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Darlington Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Shullsburg, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 9 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 53586 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tama at the center of ZIP 53586: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Shullsburg, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 53586 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shullsburg, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 53586 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).