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

Planting zone for 54429 — Elderon, WI

ZIP code 54429 (Elderon, 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 5.

Where ZIP 54429 is

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 5
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 Elderon, 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 Elderon, 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 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Rosholt 9 Nne, WI — 2 miles away, elevation 1,184 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 54429

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 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 6) 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 54429 came on Apr 15 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 Elderon, WI.

Soil in Elderon, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54429 is Scott Lake — sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Scott Lake sandy loam, 0 to 3 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 54429; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elderon, WI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,320base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 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 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 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 9 °F 28°9° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 15 °F 29°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.08 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 MarApril: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rosholt 9 Nne, WI (2 mi away); precipitation: Rosholt 9 Nne, WI (2 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.

544274b
Eland, WI · 3 mi
544994b
Wittenberg, WI · 4 mi
544404b
Hatley, WI · 7 mi
544734b
Rosholt, WI · 10 mi
544865a
Tigerton, WI · 11 mi
544144b
Birnamwood, WI · 13 mi
544714b
Ringle, WI · 14 mi
549455a
Iola, WI · 16 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54429

What planting zone is ZIP code 54429?

ZIP code 54429 (Elderon, 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 Elderon, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54429 is May 6; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rosholt 9 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Elderon, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54429 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 150 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54429?

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 54429 get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rosholt 9 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Elderon, WI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54429 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Scott Lake at the center of ZIP 54429: sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Elderon, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54429 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elderon, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54429 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).