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

Planting zone for 54844 — Herbster, WI

ZIP code 54844 (Herbster, Bayfield County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 54844 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 31
First frostOct 2
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 Herbster, 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 Herbster, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season123 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 18 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Port Wing, WI — 8 miles away, elevation 650 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 54844

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
LettuceSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
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 31) 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 54844 came on May 2 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

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 Herbster, WI.

Soil in Herbster, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54844 is Kellogg — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kellogg-Allendale-Ashwabay complex, 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 54844; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Herbster, WI

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights177nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,677base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 21 °F, low 6 °F 21°6° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 37 °F 54°37° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 26 °F 39°26° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 14 °F 27°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.54 in precipitation 1.5 JanFebruary: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 NovDecember: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Port Wing, WI (8 mi away); precipitation: Bayfield Fish Hatchery, WI (17 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

548274b
Cornucopia, WI · 5 mi
548655a
Port Wing, WI · 8 mi
548914b
Washburn, WI · 13 mi
548145a
Bayfield, WI · 16 mi
548474a
Iron River, WI · 16 mi
548164b
Benoit, WI · 20 mi
548204a
Brule, WI · 23 mi
548544b
Maple, WI · 23 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54844

What planting zone is ZIP code 54844?

ZIP code 54844 (Herbster, 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 Herbster, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54844 is May 31; after June 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Port Wing station.

When is the first frost in Herbster, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54844 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 123 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54844?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 5 – Apr 19 and set transplants outside around Jun 7 – Jun 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54844 get?

About 32.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bayfield Fish Hatchery station).

How hot do summers get in Herbster, WI?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54844 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kellogg at the center of ZIP 54844: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Herbster, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54844 came on May 2 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Herbster, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54844 is 15 h 52 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).