Frost dates for ZIP 54557 (Vilas 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, Rest Lake, WI (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)117 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4a-30 to -25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 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 54557 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) | May 8 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 9 |
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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 25 | Sep 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 11 | Oct 1 |
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 54557
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 25) and first fall frost (Sep 21). 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 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 4–25 (transplant) Apr 27–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 25 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 13–27 | May 11–Jun 1 (transplant) May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 20–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 15–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 13–27 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 2–16 | Jun 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 13–27 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (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: Rest Lake, WI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00477092), elevation 1,612 ft, 8.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minocqua, WI | 22 mi | May 23 | Sep 27 |
| St Germain, WI | 24 mi | May 19 | Oct 3 |
| Ironwood #2, MI | 26 mi | May 19 | Sep 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 54557
When is the last frost in 54557?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 54557 is May 25. For a more cautious planting date, use June 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 54557?
The average first fall freeze is September 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 3.
What hardiness zone is 54557?
ZIP 54557 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 54557 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
54545 54512 Boulder Junction 54560 Sayner 49947 Marenisco 54547 Mercer 54568 Woodruff 54538 Lac du Flambeau 54561
Other ZIP codes in Vilas County
54512 54519 54521 54538 54540 54545 54554 54558 54560 54561 54568 All Vilas County frost dates · Wisconsin frost dates
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