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

Planting zone for 54417 — Brokaw, WI

ZIP code 54417 (Brokaw, Marathon County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 54417 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 6
First frostOct 4
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 Brokaw, 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 Brokaw, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Wausau Dwtn Airport, WI — 7 miles away, elevation 1,181 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 54417

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
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 6) 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 54417 came on Apr 16 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 Brokaw, WI.

Soil in Brokaw, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54417 is Chetek — sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Chetek sandy loam, 1 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 54417; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brokaw, WI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,238base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall63 inper year; 110 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 23 °F, low 7 °F 23°7° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 14 °F 28°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.21 in precipitation, 12.1 in snowfall 1.2❄12 JanFebruary: 1.08 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 1.1❄15 FebMarch: 1.83 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 1.8❄8 MarApril: 3.12 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 3.1❄7 AprMay: 3.87 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.9 MayJune: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.12 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 OctNovember: 1.89 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.9❄5 NovDecember: 1.53 in precipitation, 15.5 in snowfall 1.5❄16 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wausau Dwtn Airport, WI (7 mi away); precipitation: Wausau Wsaw Tv, WI (6 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.

544014b
Wausau, WI · 5 mi
544034b
Wausau, WI · 6 mi
544025a
Wausau, WI · 10 mi
544745a
Rothschild, WI · 11 mi
544484b
Marathon, WI · 11 mi
544764b
Schofield, WI · 12 mi
544714b
Ringle, WI · 13 mi
544524b
Merrill, WI · 15 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54417

What planting zone is ZIP code 54417?

ZIP code 54417 (Brokaw, 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 Brokaw, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54417 is May 6; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wausau Dwtn Airport station.

When is the first frost in Brokaw, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54417 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 150 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54417?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54417 get?

About 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 63 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wausau Wsaw Tv station).

How hot do summers get in Brokaw, WI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54417 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chetek at the center of ZIP 54417: sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Brokaw, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54417 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Brokaw, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54417 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).