What Grows in Omro, Wisconsin

USDA Zones 4a-5b · 2K acres

Omro, Wisconsin, sits in USDA hardiness zones 4a-5b — a band that supports both cool-season staples and warm-season crops chosen to fit the local frost window.

These conditions suit cranberry, cherry, potato, and ginseng — a starting list any specific site will trim or extend with its own soil, sun, and drainage.

Score your parcel · free

Even in Omro, no two yards are alike.

A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Omro lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

4a-5b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Apr 10

Town normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 5

Town normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

City Area

2K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

4a
5b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Zone maps are averages across Omro. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Omro?

Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 5 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. A long window like this one runs successions deep into fall — and even its last weeks take quick greens and garlic.

Growing Challenges in Wisconsin

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

Cold winters (-30F in northern WI)

Plant perennials rated for the cold you actually get — northern Wisconsin rewards zone honesty with decades of returns.

Short growing season (110-140 frost-free days)

Indoor starts plus a cold frame stretch the season on both ends — standard practice from Madison to Superior.

Sandy central soils drain too quickly

The Central Sands fix is organic matter — compost and cover crops, every year, until the ground holds its own water.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Wisconsin, the UW–Madison Division of Extension is the authoritative local source.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

510

within ~10 miles of Omro

Risk Level

High

Highest-severity

5 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of Omro

High5Moderate89Low416

Highest-Severity Sites

Butte Des Morts Mercury Spill
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Fox Valley Laundries
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Kienast & Paulus Quarries
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Oshkosh Ricin House
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Shilobrit Dry Cleaner Site
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)

Know Before You Grow

  • Underground tanks can leak petroleum products. Soil testing near former gas stations is recommended.
  • Raised beds with imported soil can reduce exposure risk near brownfield sites.
  • TRI facilities report chemical releases. Check wind direction — downwind parcels face higher airborne exposure.
Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Omro

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

Omro Average

  • USDA Zones 4a-5b
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your specific parcel in Omro

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Omro, Wisconsin — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for Omro, Wisconsin

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4a-5b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 10 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 5 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~209 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 2K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Omro, Wisconsin?

Omro sits in USDA hardiness zones 4a-5b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

Is it too late to plant in Omro?

Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 5 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. A long window like this one runs successions deep into fall — and even its last weeks take quick greens and garlic.

When does frost risk typically end in Omro?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Omro typically lands around Apr 10, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.

When is the first frost in Omro?

The first hard freeze (28°F) in Omro typically arrives around Nov 5, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — the point most tender summer crops finish. Lighter frosts usually reach a couple of weeks earlier, so watch the forecast from late summer on and harvest or cover tender plants before the first cold night.

What vegetables grow in Omro?

Omro's zones 4a-5b support a wide range — strong performers include Cranberry, Cherry, Potato, Ginseng, and Sugar Maple. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is Omro, really?

Officially, Omro sits in USDA zones 4a-5b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Omro?

The federal record around Omro runs heavier than most — 510 documented sites — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.

How do I protect my plants from frost in Omro?

As the season closes around the first 28°F hard freeze near Nov 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.

Everything on this page is a Omro average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.