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

Planting zone for 54022 — River Falls, WI

ZIP code 54022 (River Falls, Pierce County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 54022 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 11
First frostOct 1
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for River 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 River Falls, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station River Falls, WI — within 1 mile, elevation 942 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 54022

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 54022 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 4b in Wisconsin

486 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

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 89

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 178

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 152

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 4

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 °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 River Falls, WI.

Soil in River Falls, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54022 is Finchford — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Finchford loamy 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 54022; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in River Falls, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,305base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 36 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 4 °F 22°4° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 8 °F 27°8° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 12 °F 27°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 MarApril: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 AugSeptember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 NovDecember: 1.08 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

540214b
Prescott, WI · 9 mi
540034b
Beldenville, WI · 9 mi
540234b
Roberts, WI · 10 mi
550435a
Lakeland, MN · 10 mi
540164b
Hudson, WI · 10 mi
550015a
Afton, MN · 11 mi
540114b
Ellsworth, WI · 11 mi
540154b
Hammond, WI · 12 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54022

What planting zone is ZIP code 54022?

ZIP code 54022 (River Falls, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in River Falls, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54022 is May 11; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, River Falls station.

When is the first frost in River Falls, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54022 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54022?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54022 get?

About 34.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, River Falls station).

How hot do summers get in River Falls, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54022 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Finchford at the center of ZIP 54022: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

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

Spring leaf-out near 54022 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 River Falls, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54022 is 15 h 36 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).