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

Planting zone for 54890 — Wascott, WI

ZIP code 54890 (Wascott, Douglas County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 22 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 54890 is

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.

Zone3b−35 to −30 °F
Coldest night−37.2 to −34.4 °C
Last frostMay 22
First frostSep 26
2012 zone3b

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 3b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wascott, 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 Wascott, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season126 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 9 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Gordon, WI — 5 miles away, elevation 1,040 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 54890

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 10 – May 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
BeansSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 54890 came on Apr 20 — 3 days earlier than 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 3b in Wisconsin

257 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −35 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 3b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 31

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigtooth aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 43

Allegheny 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 mountain ash40 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 86

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 86

awlfruit 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 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 2

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Wascott, WI.

Soil in Wascott, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54890 is Grayling — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Grayling sand, 6 to 12 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 54890; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wascott, WI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights191nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,938base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 37 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 20 °F, low 0 °F 20°0° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 3 °F 26°3° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° OctNovember: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° NovDecember: average high 25 °F, low 8 °F 25°8° 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: Gordon, WI (5 mi away); precipitation: Gordon, WI (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

548594a
Minong, WI · 4 mi
548384a
Gordon, WI · 5 mi
548734a
Solon Springs, WI · 13 mi
548884a
Trego, WI · 14 mi
548754a
Springbrook, WI · 15 mi
548304a
Danbury, WI · 21 mi
548494a
Lake Nebagamon, WI · 22 mi
548424a
Hawthorne, WI · 22 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54890

What planting zone is ZIP code 54890?

ZIP code 54890 (Wascott, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 3b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −35 to −30 °F (−37.2 to −34.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Wascott, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54890 is May 22; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gordon station.

When is the first frost in Wascott, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54890 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 126 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54890?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 27 – Apr 10 and set transplants outside around May 29 – Jun 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54890 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 Wascott, WI?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54890 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Grayling at the center of ZIP 54890: sand, excessively drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Wascott, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54890 came on Apr 20 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wascott, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54890 is 15 h 47 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).