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

Planting zone for 54912 — Appleton, WI

ZIP code 54912 (Appleton, Outagamie County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 54912 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 4
First frostOct 6
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Appleton, 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 Appleton, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Appleton, WI — 10 miles away, elevation 791 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 54912

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 54912 came on Apr 14 — 4 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 5b in Wisconsin

518 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

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 93

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 197

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 159

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 5

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 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Appleton, WI.

Soil in Appleton, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54912 is Poygan — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.1neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Poygan silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally ponded, drained.

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 54912; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Appleton, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,525base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall58 inper year; 94 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 10 °F 25°10° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 17 °F 31°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.27 in precipitation, 12.1 in snowfall 1.3❄12 JanFebruary: 1.05 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 1.1❄14 FebMarch: 1.96 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 2.0❄7 MarApril: 3.19 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 3.2❄4 AprMay: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 2.80 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.8 OctNovember: 1.94 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 1.9❄3 NovDecember: 1.69 in precipitation, 16.5 in snowfall 1.7❄17 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Appleton, WI (10 mi away); precipitation: Shiocton, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

541315b
Freedom, WI · <1 mi
549195b
Appleton, WI · <1 mi
541065a
Black Creek, WI · 5 mi
549135b
Appleton, WI · 6 mi
549425b
Greenville, WI · 9 mi
541705a
Shiocton, WI · 10 mi
549115b
Appleton, WI · 10 mi
549445a
Hortonville, WI · 10 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Appleton → · Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54912

What planting zone is ZIP code 54912?

ZIP code 54912 (Appleton, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Appleton, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54912 is May 4; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Appleton station.

When is the first frost in Appleton, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54912 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54912?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54912 get?

About 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 58 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shiocton station).

How hot do summers get in Appleton, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54912 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Poygan at the center of ZIP 54912: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.1 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Appleton, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54912 came on Apr 14 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Appleton, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54912 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54912 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54912 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.