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

Planting zone for 54873 — Solon Springs, WI

ZIP code 54873 (Solon Springs, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 54873 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostOct 2
2012 zone3b

Was 3b 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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Solon Springs, 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 Solon Springs, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Solon Springs, WI — 6 miles away, elevation 1,129 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 54873

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
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 12) 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 54873 came on Apr 23 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 4a in Wisconsin

419 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 45

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 71

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 157

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 133

arctic 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 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 3

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 °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 Solon Springs, WI.

Soil in Solon Springs, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54873 is Rubicon — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly 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: Rubicon sand, 0 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 54873; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Solon Springs, WI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights193nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,183base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall60 inper year; 130 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 4 °F 21°4° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 6 °F 27°6° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° NovDecember: average high 26 °F, low 11 °F 26°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.96 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 1.0❄10 JanFebruary: 0.97 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 1.0❄10 FebMarch: 1.56 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 1.6❄10 MarApril: 2.88 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 2.9❄6 AprMay: 3.78 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.8 MayJune: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.20 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.2❄1 OctNovember: 1.70 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 1.7❄9 NovDecember: 1.33 in precipitation, 12.8 in snowfall 1.3❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Solon Springs, WI (6 mi away); precipitation: Gordon, WI (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

548384a
Gordon, WI · 8 mi
548494a
Lake Nebagamon, WI · 9 mi
548424a
Hawthorne, WI · 13 mi
548903b
Wascott, WI · 13 mi
548204a
Brule, WI · 16 mi
548594a
Minong, WI · 17 mi
548324a
Drummond, WI · 17 mi
548644b
Poplar, WI · 18 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54873

What planting zone is ZIP code 54873?

ZIP code 54873 (Solon Springs, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Solon Springs, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54873 is May 12; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Solon Springs station.

When is the first frost in Solon Springs, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54873 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 142 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54873?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54873 get?

About 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 60 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gordon station).

How hot do summers get in Solon Springs, WI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54873 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rubicon at the center of ZIP 54873: sand, excessively drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Solon Springs, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54873 came on Apr 23 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Solon Springs, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54873 is 15 h 48 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54873 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54873 in zone 3b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.