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

Planting zone for 54723 — Bay City, WI

ZIP code 54723 (Bay City, Pierce County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 54723 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 13
First frostSep 29
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 Bay City, 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 Bay City, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season139 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Ellsworth 1e, WI — 9 miles away, elevation 1,030 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 54723

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 54723 came on Apr 11 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 Bay City, WI.

Soil in Bay City, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54723 is Pepin — 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 matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pepin silt loam, 20 to 30 percent slopes, moderately eroded.

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 54723; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bay City, WI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,109base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall44 inper year; 82 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 2 °F 21°2° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 6 °F 27°6° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.14 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 1.1❄11 JanFebruary: 1.06 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 1.1❄10 FebMarch: 1.90 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 1.9❄8 MarApril: 3.07 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.1❄2 AprMay: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 AugSeptember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.7 OctNovember: 1.81 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 1.8❄4 NovDecember: 1.30 in precipitation, 8.7 in snowfall 1.3❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ellsworth 1e, WI (9 mi away); precipitation: Red Wing, MN (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

547504b
Maiden Rock, WI · 7 mi
550264b
Frontenac, MN · 7 mi
540114b
Ellsworth, WI · 8 mi
540144b
Hager City, WI · 8 mi
550664b
Red Wing, MN · 9 mi
547694b
Stockholm, WI · 12 mi
547614b
Plum City, WI · 12 mi
540034b
Beldenville, WI · 12 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54723

What planting zone is ZIP code 54723?

ZIP code 54723 (Bay City, 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 Bay City, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54723 is May 13; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ellsworth 1e station.

When is the first frost in Bay City, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54723 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 139 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54723?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54723 get?

About 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 44 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Wing station).

How hot do summers get in Bay City, WI?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54723 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pepin at the center of ZIP 54723: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bay City, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54723 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bay City, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54723 is 15 h 34 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).