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

Planting zone for 54614 — Bangor, WI

ZIP code 54614 (Bangor, La Crosse County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 54614 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 9
First frostOct 1
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 Bangor, 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 Bangor, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Sparta, WI — 7 miles away, elevation 781 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 54614

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 54614 came on Mar 28 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Bangor, WI.

Soil in Bangor, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54614 is Gosil — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gosil loamy sand, 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 54614; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bangor, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,443base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.8 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 25 °F, low 6 °F 25°6° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 9 °F 30°9° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 FebMarch: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sparta, WI (7 mi away); precipitation: West Salem 0.7 W, WI (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

546535a
Rockland, WI · 6 mi
546695a
West Salem, WI · 7 mi
546564b
Sparta, WI · 9 mi
546444b
Mindoro, WI · 11 mi
546025a
La Crosse, WI · 11 mi
546015a
La Crosse, WI · 12 mi
546235a
Coon Valley, WI · 13 mi
546195a
Cashton, WI · 14 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54614

What planting zone is ZIP code 54614?

ZIP code 54614 (Bangor, 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 Bangor, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54614 is May 9; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sparta station.

When is the first frost in Bangor, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54614 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54614?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54614 get?

About 36.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, West Salem 0.7 W station).

How hot do summers get in Bangor, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54614 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gosil at the center of ZIP 54614: loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Bangor, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54614 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bangor, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54614 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).