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

Planting zone for 54210 — Ellison Bay, WI

ZIP code 54210 (Ellison Bay, Door County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 54210 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 14
First frostOct 18
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 Ellison Bay, 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 Ellison Bay, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Ephraim 1ne-Wwtp, WI — 7 miles away, elevation 732 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 54210

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 54210 came on Apr 22 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

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 Ellison Bay, WI.

Soil in Ellison Bay, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54210 is Rousseau — fine sand, well drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rousseau 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 54210; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ellison Bay, WI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights155nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,108base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall62 inper year; 95 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 27 °F, low 12 °F 27°12° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 13 °F 29°13° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 51 °F 70°51° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 41 °F 57°41° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 30 °F 44°30° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.71 in precipitation, 16.8 in snowfall 1.7❄17 JanFebruary: 1.06 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 1.1❄14 FebMarch: 1.66 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 1.7❄8 MarApril: 2.71 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 2.7❄6 AprMay: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 2.27 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 2.3❄3 NovDecember: 1.70 in precipitation, 13.8 in snowfall 1.7❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ephraim 1ne-Wwtp, WI (7 mi away); precipitation: Ephraim 1ne-Wwtp, WI (7 mi away). 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.

542345b
Sister Bay, WI · 5 mi
542115b
Ephraim, WI · 9 mi
542466a
Washington Island, WI · 11 mi
542025b
Baileys Harbor, WI · 12 mi
542125b
Fish Creek, WI · 13 mi
542095b
Egg Harbor, WI · 19 mi
498585b
Menominee, MI · 25 mi
498935a
Wallace, MI · 28 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54210

What planting zone is ZIP code 54210?

ZIP code 54210 (Ellison Bay, 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 Ellison Bay, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54210 is May 14; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ephraim 1ne-Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Ellison Bay, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54210 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54210?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54210 get?

About 31 inches of precipitation a year and 62 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ephraim 1ne-Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Ellison Bay, WI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54210 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rousseau at the center of ZIP 54210: fine sand, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Ellison Bay, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54210 came on Apr 22 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ellison Bay, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54210 is 15 h 39 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).