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

Planting zone for 54812 — Barron, WI

ZIP code 54812 (Barron, 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 54812 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 Barron, 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 Barron, 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 — 6 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 54812

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 54812 came on Apr 15 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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).

Soil in Barron, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54812 is Spencer — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Spencer silt loam, 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 54812; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Barron, 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 40 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 (6 mi away); precipitation: Rice Lake, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

548054b
Almena, WI · 7 mi
547334b
Dallas, WI · 8 mi
548224b
Cameron, WI · 9 mi
547624b
Prairie Farm, WI · 11 mi
548684b
Rice Lake, WI · 12 mi
547284b
Chetek, WI · 13 mi
540044b
Clayton, WI · 13 mi
548894b
Turtle Lake, WI · 14 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54812

What planting zone is ZIP code 54812?

ZIP code 54812 (Barron, 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 Barron, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54812 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 Barron, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54812 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54812?

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 54812 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 Barron, 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 54812 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Spencer at the center of ZIP 54812: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Barron, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54812 came on Apr 15 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Barron, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54812 is 15 h 40 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54812 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54812 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.