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

Planting zone for 54977 — Scandinavia, WI

ZIP code 54977 (Scandinavia, Waupaca County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 54977 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 8
First frostOct 6
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 Scandinavia, 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 Scandinavia, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Waupaca, WI — 9 miles away, elevation 837 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 54977

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
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 8) 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 54977 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 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 Scandinavia, WI.

Soil in Scandinavia, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54977 is Kennan — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if subsoiled, completely removing the root inhibiting soil layerUSDA classification

Map unit: Kennan, very bouldery and Kennan sandy loams, 1 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 54977; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scandinavia, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,383base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 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)
Precipitation33.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall49 inper year; 98 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 8 °F 25°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 10 °F 29°10° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.41 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 1.4❄11 JanFebruary: 1.11 in precipitation, 11.9 in snowfall 1.1❄12 FebMarch: 1.94 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.4❄5 AprMay: 4.07 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MayJune: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.61 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.6 OctNovember: 2.06 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 2.1❄2 NovDecember: 1.71 in precipitation, 12.3 in snowfall 1.7❄12 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

544585a
Nelsonville, WI · 7 mi
549625a
Ogdensburg, WI · 7 mi
544075a
Amherst Junction, WI · 7 mi
544065a
Amherst, WI · 7 mi
549455a
Iola, WI · 8 mi
549465a
King, WI · 9 mi
549815a
Waupaca, WI · 10 mi
549495a
Manawa, WI · 13 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54977

What planting zone is ZIP code 54977?

ZIP code 54977 (Scandinavia, 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 Scandinavia, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54977 is May 8; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waupaca station.

When is the first frost in Scandinavia, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54977 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54977?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54977 get?

About 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waupaca station).

How hot do summers get in Scandinavia, 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 54977 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kennan at the center of ZIP 54977: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Scandinavia, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54977 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 Scandinavia, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54977 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).