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

Planting zone for 54247 — Whitelaw, WI

ZIP code 54247 (Whitelaw, Manitowoc County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 54247 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 30
First frostOct 20
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 Whitelaw, 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 Whitelaw, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Manitowoc, WI — 11 miles away, elevation 584 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 54247

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 54247 came on Apr 15 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Whitelaw, WI.

Soil in Whitelaw, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54247 is Hortonville — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hortonville silt loam, 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 54247; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Whitelaw, WI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,113base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 13 °F 27°13° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 16 °F 29°16° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F 39°25° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 34 °F 50°34° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 44 °F 62°44° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 54 °F 72°54° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 60 °F 77°60° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 60 °F 76°60° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 53 °F 69°53° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 42 °F 56°42° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 30 °F 43°30° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 20 °F 32°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 JanFebruary: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.93 in precipitation 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Manitowoc, WI (11 mi away); precipitation: Two Rivers 4.5 Wnw, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

542155b
Kellnersville, WI · 2 mi
542145b
Francis Creek, WI · 4 mi
542275b
Maribel, WI · 6 mi
542305b
Reedsville, WI · 7 mi
542205b
Manitowoc, WI · 8 mi
542285b
Mishicot, WI · 9 mi
542415b
Two Rivers, WI · 10 mi
542215b
Manitowoc, WI · 11 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54247

What planting zone is ZIP code 54247?

ZIP code 54247 (Whitelaw, 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 Whitelaw, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54247 is April 30; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Manitowoc station.

When is the first frost in Whitelaw, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54247 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54247?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54247 get?

About 32.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Two Rivers 4.5 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Whitelaw, WI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54247 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hortonville at the center of ZIP 54247: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Whitelaw, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54247 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Whitelaw, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54247 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).