Fall in zone 4aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 54870 (Washburn County, WI)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Spooner AG Res STN, WI (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)135 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4a-30 to -25°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 54870, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 54870 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 29 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 26 | Sep 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 14 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 2 | Oct 7 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 54870
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Sep 28). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 5–19 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 5–19 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 23–May 14 (transplant) Apr 16–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 16–May 14 (transplant) Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 5–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 5–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jun 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 21 (transplant) Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 9–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jun 8–22 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 16–23 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 16–23 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 16–23 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 16–23 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 16–23 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 2–16 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 19–Mar 5 | May 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 2–16 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 21–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Spooner AG Res STN, WI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00478027), elevation 1,100 ft, 9.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland, WI | 17 mi | May 5 | Oct 4 |
| Rice Lake, WI | 20 mi | May 8 | Oct 2 |
| Hayward Rs, WI | 24 mi | May 22 | Sep 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 54870
When is the last frost in 54870?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 54870 is May 14. For a more cautious planting date, use May 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 54870?
The average first fall freeze is September 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 14.
What hardiness zone is 54870?
ZIP 54870 is in USDA zone 4a (-30 to -25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 54870 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
54841 Haugen 54871 Shell Lake 54857 54817 Birchwood 54813 Barronett 54868 Rice Lake 54801 Spooner 54876 Reserve
Other ZIP codes in Washburn County
54801 54817 54859 54871 54875 54888 All Washburn County frost dates · Wisconsin frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.