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

Planting zone for 54974 — Rosendale, WI

ZIP code 54974 (Rosendale, Fond du Lac County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 54974 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 1
First frostOct 10
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 Rosendale, 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 Rosendale, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Fond Du Lac Co. Airport, WI — 8 miles away, elevation 810 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 54974

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 54974 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

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 191

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 158

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 Rosendale, WI.

Soil in Rosendale, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54974 is Lomira — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lomira silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, eroded.

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 54974; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rosendale, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights143nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,600base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28.4 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 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 18 °F 32°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 MarApril: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 NovDecember: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Fond Du Lac Co. Airport, WI (8 mi away); precipitation: Fond Du Lac Co. Airport, WI (8 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.

549325a
Eldorado, WI · 4 mi
539195a
Brandon, WI · 7 mi
530655a
Oakfield, WI · 8 mi
549795b
Van Dyne, WI · 9 mi
549645a
Pickett, WI · 10 mi
549715a
Ripon, WI · 10 mi
549365b
Fond Du Lac, WI · 11 mi
549355b
Fond Du Lac, WI · 11 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54974

What planting zone is ZIP code 54974?

ZIP code 54974 (Rosendale, 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 Rosendale, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54974 is May 1; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fond Du Lac Co. Airport station.

When is the first frost in Rosendale, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54974 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54974?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54974 get?

About 28.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fond Du Lac Co. Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Rosendale, 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 54974 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lomira at the center of ZIP 54974: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Rosendale, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54974 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 Rosendale, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54974 is 15 h 28 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).