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

Planting zone for 54740 — Elmwood, WI

ZIP code 54740 (Elmwood, Pierce County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 54740 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 1
First frostOct 10
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 Elmwood, 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 Elmwood, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Durand, WI — 13 miles away, elevation 705 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 54740

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 54740 came on Apr 11 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Elmwood, WI.

Soil in Elmwood, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54740 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 classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Pepin silt loam, 6 to 12 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 54740; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elmwood, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights159nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,590base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 5 °F 25°5° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 8 °F 29°8° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 25 °F 43°25° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 FebMarch: 2.30 in precipitation 2.3 MarApril: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 OctNovember: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.40 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Durand, WI (13 mi away); precipitation: Spring Valley, WI (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

547674b
Spring Valley, WI · 7 mi
547614b
Plum City, WI · 9 mi
547214b
Arkansaw, WI · 9 mi
547374b
Eau Galle, WI · 9 mi
547504b
Maiden Rock, WI · 10 mi
547354b
Downsville, WI · 12 mi
540274b
Wilson, WI · 12 mi
547514b
Menomonie, WI · 13 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54740

What planting zone is ZIP code 54740?

ZIP code 54740 (Elmwood, 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 Elmwood, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54740 is May 1; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Durand station.

When is the first frost in Elmwood, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54740 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54740?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54740 get?

About 34.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spring Valley station).

How hot do summers get in Elmwood, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54740 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pepin at the center of ZIP 54740: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Elmwood, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54740 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elmwood, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54740 is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).