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

Planting zone for 54610 — Alma, WI

ZIP code 54610 (Alma, Buffalo County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 54610 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 frostApr 28
First frostOct 14
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 Alma, 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 Alma, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Alma Dam 4, WI — 5 miles away, elevation 669 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 54610

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 54610 came on Mar 30 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Alma, WI.

Soil in Alma, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54610 is Seaton — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Seaton silt loam, driftless ridge, 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 54610; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alma, WI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights138nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,641base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 86 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 24 °F, low 8 °F 24°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F 79°61° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 28 °F 42°28° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 15 °F 29°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.95 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 0.9❄10 JanFebruary: 1.01 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 1.0❄9 FebMarch: 1.85 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.51 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.5❄2 AprMay: 4.81 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.8 MayJune: 5.68 in precipitation 5.7 JunJuly: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 2.61 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.6 OctNovember: 1.92 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 1.9❄2 NovDecember: 1.11 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 1.1❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Alma Dam 4, WI (5 mi away); precipitation: Alma Dam 4, WI (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

546224b
Cochrane, WI · 7 mi
547564b
Nelson, WI · 9 mi
547434b
Gilmanton, WI · 11 mi
559814b
Wabasha, MN · 11 mi
559454b
Kellogg, MN · 13 mi
559684b
Reads Landing, MN · 13 mi
546294b
Fountain City, WI · 16 mi
547554b
Mondovi, WI · 16 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54610

What planting zone is ZIP code 54610?

ZIP code 54610 (Alma, 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 Alma, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54610 is April 28; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alma Dam 4 station.

When is the first frost in Alma, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54610 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54610?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside around May 5 – May 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54610 get?

About 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alma Dam 4 station).

How hot do summers get in Alma, WI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54610 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Seaton at the center of ZIP 54610: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Alma, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54610 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alma, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54610 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).