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

Planting zone for 54960 — Neshkoro, WI

ZIP code 54960 (Neshkoro, Marquette County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 54960 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Neshkoro, 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 Neshkoro, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Montello, WI — 12 miles away, elevation 787 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 54960

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 54960 came on Apr 10 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16).

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 5a in Wisconsin

510 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

Shrubs 93

Wildflowers & perennials 191

Grasses 158

Vines 5

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 Neshkoro, WI.

Soil in Neshkoro, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54960 is Houghton — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter67%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Houghton mucky peat, 0 to 2 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 54960; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Neshkoro, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,497base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall46 inper year; 88 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 26 °F, low 8 °F 26°8° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.36 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 1.4❄11 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 1.3❄13 FebMarch: 2.18 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 2.2❄6 MarApril: 4.01 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 4.0❄3 AprMay: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.74 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.7 OctNovember: 2.06 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 2.1❄2 NovDecember: 1.68 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 1.7❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Montello, WI (12 mi away); precipitation: Wautoma-Silver Lake San Dist, WI (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54960

What planting zone is ZIP code 54960?

ZIP code 54960 (Neshkoro, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Neshkoro, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54960 is May 3; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montello station.

When is the first frost in Neshkoro, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54960 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54960?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54960 get?

About 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 46 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wautoma-Silver Lake San Dist station).

How hot do summers get in Neshkoro, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54960 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Houghton at the center of ZIP 54960: mucky peat, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Neshkoro, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54960 came on Apr 10 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Neshkoro, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54960 is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).