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

Planting zone for 54728 — Chetek, WI

ZIP code 54728 (Chetek, Barron County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 54728 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 8
First frostOct 2
2012 zone4a

Was 4a 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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Chetek, 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 Chetek, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Rice Lake, WI — 10 miles away, elevation 1,102 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 54728

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 54728 came on Apr 11 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 Chetek, WI.

Soil in Chetek, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54728 is Menahga — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Menahga loamy sand, 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 54728; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chetek, WI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,315base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall53 inper year; 104 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 22 °F, low 2 °F 22°2° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 5 °F 27°5° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 18 °F 40°18° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.89 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 0.9❄11 JanFebruary: 0.82 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 0.8❄11 FebMarch: 1.47 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 1.5❄9 MarApril: 2.77 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 2.8❄4 AprMay: 3.85 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.9❄1 MayJune: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.03 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.0❄1 OctNovember: 1.68 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 1.7❄6 NovDecember: 1.22 in precipitation, 11.9 in snowfall 1.2❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rice Lake, WI (10 mi away); precipitation: Rice Lake, WI (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

548224b
Cameron, WI · 7 mi
547574b
New Auburn, WI · 7 mi
547334b
Dallas, WI · 11 mi
548954a
Weyerhaeuser, WI · 13 mi
548124b
Barron, WI · 13 mi
547634b
Ridgeland, WI · 15 mi
548684b
Rice Lake, WI · 16 mi
547244b
Bloomer, WI · 16 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54728

What planting zone is ZIP code 54728?

ZIP code 54728 (Chetek, 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 Chetek, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54728 is May 8; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rice Lake station.

When is the first frost in Chetek, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54728 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54728?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54728 get?

About 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 53 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rice Lake station).

How hot do summers get in Chetek, WI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54728 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Menahga at the center of ZIP 54728: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Chetek, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54728 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chetek, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54728 is 15 h 39 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54728 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54728 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.