Wisconsin frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 1 cities in Wisconsin, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | Apr 26 | May 12 | Oct 18 | 173 |
Planting calendar for Milwaukee
The largest city we cover in Wisconsin. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Apr 26
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: May 12. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 18
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 2. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
173
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 173 days. Station: Mt Mary College, WI, 5 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
March
The next window opens in March.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 3
- Start indoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 17
- Transplant outdoors
- May 12 – May 26
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 3
- Start indoors
- Mar 3 – Mar 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 12
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- May 12 – May 26
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- May 12 – May 26
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – May 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – May 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 12
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – May 12
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 21
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 17
- Transplant outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 12
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 17
- Start indoors
- Mar 17 – Mar 31
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 28
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 31
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 28
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 31
- Start indoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 31
- Start indoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 31
- Start indoors
- Mar 31 – Apr 14
April
The next window opens in April.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 14
- Start indoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 14
- Start indoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 14
- Start indoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- May 19 – May 26
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Apr 14
- Start indoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Transplant outdoors
- May 19 – May 26
- Sow outdoors
- May 19 – May 26
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Apr 14
- Start indoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- May 19 – May 26
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – May 12
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 28
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 21
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 21
- Sow for fall
- Jul 10 – Jul 24
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 12
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 12
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 12
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 12
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 5
May
The next window opens in May.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 12
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 12
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from May 12
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from May 12
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from May 12
- Transplant outdoors
- May 12 – May 12
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from May 19
- Sow outdoors
- May 19 – May 26
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 26
- Sow outdoors
- May 26 – May 26
August
The next window opens in August.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Aug 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 21 – Aug 21
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.