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

Planting zone for 54631 — Gays Mills, WI

ZIP code 54631 (Gays Mills, Crawford County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 54631 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 7
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gays Mills, 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 Gays Mills, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Gays Mills, WI — 2 miles away, elevation 689 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 54631

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 54631 came on Mar 30 — 15 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 5a in Wisconsin

510 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 93

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 191

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 158

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 5

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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Gays Mills, WI.

Soil in Gays Mills, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54631 is Ettrick — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter8%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drained and either protected from flooding or not frequently flooded during the growing seasonUSDA classification

Map unit: Ettrick silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 54631; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gays Mills, WI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,694base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall38 inper year; 75 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 27 °F, low 7 °F 27°7° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 11 °F 32°11° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.32 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 1.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.17 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 1.2❄8 FebMarch: 2.03 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 2.0❄6 MarApril: 3.89 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.9❄2 AprMay: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.68 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.7 OctNovember: 2.10 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 2.1❄2 NovDecember: 1.55 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 1.6❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gays Mills, WI (2 mi away); precipitation: Gays Mills, WI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

546455a
Mount Sterling, WI · 5 mi
546545a
Seneca, WI · 6 mi
546555a
Soldiers Grove, WI · 7 mi
546575a
Steuben, WI · 7 mi
546285a
Ferryville, WI · 11 mi
546265a
Eastman, WI · 12 mi
535185a
Blue River, WI · 12 mi
538055a
Boscobel, WI · 13 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54631

What planting zone is ZIP code 54631?

ZIP code 54631 (Gays Mills, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Gays Mills, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54631 is May 3; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gays Mills station.

When is the first frost in Gays Mills, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54631 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54631?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54631 get?

About 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gays Mills station).

How hot do summers get in Gays Mills, WI?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54631 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ettrick at the center of ZIP 54631: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Gays Mills, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54631 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gays Mills, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54631 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54631 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54631 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.