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

Planting zone for 53949 — Montello, WI

ZIP code 53949 (Montello, Marquette 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 5.

Where ZIP 53949 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 5
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 Montello, 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 Montello, 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 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Montello, WI — within 1 mile, elevation 787 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 53949

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 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 53949 came on Apr 10 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Montello, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 53949 is Gotham — loamy fine sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gotham loamy fine sand, 2 to 6 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 53949; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montello, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,497base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 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)
Precipitation36.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall42 inper year; 86 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 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.36 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 1.4❄11 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 1.3❄10 FebMarch: 1.91 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 1.9❄6 MarApril: 3.71 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.7❄2 AprMay: 4.44 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.97 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.85 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.9 OctNovember: 2.10 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.1❄2 NovDecember: 1.66 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 1.7❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Montello, WI (within 1 mile); precipitation: Montello, WI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

539535a
Packwaukee, WI · 6 mi
539265a
Dalton, WI · 10 mi
539305a
Endeavor, WI · 10 mi
549685a
Princeton, WI · 11 mi
539395a
Kingston, WI · 12 mi
539645a
Westfield, WI · 12 mi
539525a
Oxford, WI · 12 mi
549605a
Neshkoro, WI · 13 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 53949

What planting zone is ZIP code 53949?

ZIP code 53949 (Montello, 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 Montello, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 53949 is May 3; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montello station.

When is the first frost in Montello, WI?

The median first fall frost near 53949 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 53949?

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 53949 get?

About 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 42 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montello station).

How hot do summers get in Montello, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 53949 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gotham at the center of ZIP 53949: loamy fine sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Montello, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 53949 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Montello, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 53949 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).