When to plant in Wisconsin
Most of Wisconsin sees its last spring frost between Apr 26 and May 19, and its first fall frost between Sep 29 and Oct 20. The middle of the state is around May 4 and October 7: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Wisconsin: 4a (8%), 4b (27%), 5a (29%), 5b (30%), 6a (5%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 31 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 28 – Oct 7 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 17 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Aug 2 – Oct 7 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 13 – Aug 31 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 8 – Sep 16 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | Aug 22 – Sep 26 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 13 – Aug 24 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 26 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | Aug 2 – Aug 30 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | May 21 – Jul 2 | Aug 9 – Aug 23 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 2 – Jun 13 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Kale | Feb 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | May 31 – Aug 23 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Broccoli | Mar 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 12 – Jul 17 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Cabbage | Feb 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jun 15 – Jul 20 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 22 – Aug 3 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Beet | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 7 – Jul 19 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| Radish | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Apr 24 – May 22 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | Jul 8 – Aug 12 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 30 – Oct 21 (fall) | Jun 29 – Jul 20 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jul 12 – Aug 16 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 13 | May 25 – Jun 8 | Sep 2 – Sep 30 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 25 – Jun 8 | Aug 18 – Sep 22 | — |
| Basil | Apr 7 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jun 18 – Sep 24 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 1 – Jun 29 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | Aug 7 – Sep 11 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Wisconsin. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Wisconsin
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 6a | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| Madison | 5b | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Green Bay | 5b | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Racine | 6a | Apr 20 | Oct 24 |
| Appleton | 5b | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Kenosha | 6a | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Oshkosh | 5b | Apr 24 | Oct 20 |
| Waukesha | 5b | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| Brookfield | 5b | Apr 30 | Oct 14 |
| Eau Claire | 4b | May 7 | Oct 4 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.