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

Planting zone for 54450 — Mattoon, WI

ZIP code 54450 (Mattoon, Shawano County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 54450 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 14
First frostSep 30
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 Mattoon, 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 Mattoon, 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 frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season139 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Antigo, WI — 11 miles away, elevation 1,519 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 54450

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 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 54450 came on Apr 16 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22).

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 Mattoon, WI.

Soil in Mattoon, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54450 is Cromwell — sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Cromwell 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 54450; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mattoon, WI

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights180nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,930base 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)
Precipitation29.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 116 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 21 °F, low 4 °F 21°4° JanFebruary: average high 25 °F, low 5 °F 25°5° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 11 °F 26°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.83 in precipitation, 12.2 in snowfall 0.8❄12 JanFebruary: 0.74 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 0.7❄10 FebMarch: 1.27 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 1.3❄7 MarApril: 2.51 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 2.5❄5 AprMay: 3.29 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.3 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.04 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.0❄1 OctNovember: 1.74 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 1.7❄5 NovDecember: 1.21 in precipitation, 13.2 in snowfall 1.2❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Antigo, WI (11 mi away); precipitation: Antigo, WI (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

544644b
Phlox, WI · 4 mi
544144b
Birnamwood, WI · 7 mi
544164b
Bowler, WI · 9 mi
544094b
Antigo, WI · 10 mi
544304b
Elton, WI · 12 mi
541504b
Neopit, WI · 13 mi
544084b
Aniwa, WI · 14 mi
544184b
Bryant, WI · 15 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54450

What planting zone is ZIP code 54450?

ZIP code 54450 (Mattoon, 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 Mattoon, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54450 is May 14; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Antigo station.

When is the first frost in Mattoon, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54450 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 139 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54450?

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 54450 get?

About 29.4 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Antigo station).

How hot do summers get in Mattoon, WI?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54450 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cromwell at the center of ZIP 54450: sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mattoon, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54450 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mattoon, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54450 is 15 h 37 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).