Fall in zone 4bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 54856 (Mason, 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, Drummond, WI (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)132 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 54856, 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 54856 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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 2 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 1 | Sep 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 20 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 7 | Oct 11 |
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 54856
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 25–Apr 8 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 11–25 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 11–25 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 29–May 20 (transplant) Apr 22–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 20 (transplant) Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 11–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 11–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 8–22 | May 6–27 (transplant) May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 15–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 10–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 22–29 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 22–29 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 22–29 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 22–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 22–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 8–22 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 25–Mar 11 | May 27–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 8–22 | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (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: Drummond, WI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00472240), elevation 1,340 ft, 10.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Kennedy Mem AP, WI | 12 mi | May 23 | Sep 29 |
| Ashland 3S, WI | 12 mi | May 20 | Oct 2 |
| Clam Lake 4W, WI | 19 mi | May 16 | Sep 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 54856
When is the last frost in 54856?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 54856 is May 20. For a more cautious planting date, use June 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 54856?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 19.
What hardiness zone is 54856?
ZIP 54856 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 54856 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
54839 Grand View 54832 Drummond 54855 Jolmaville 54806 Ashland 54821 Cable 54847 Iron River 54846 54891 Washburn
Other ZIP codes in Bayfield County
54814 54821 54827 54832 54839 54844 54847 54865 54891 All Bayfield 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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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.