Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Madison, Wisconsin

Typical last spring frost May 1 (1 spring in 10 later than May 16). Typical first fall frost October 10 (1 fall in 10 earlier than September 26). Growing season about 160 days.

Or use your browser's Print command.

Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until April 16 and fades out by May 16. It is unlikely from then until September 26, and likely again after October 24. The dashed lines are the typical dates, May 1 and October 10.

Your season is too short for a separate fall planting of cabbage: sown late enough to be a fall crop, it wouldn't be ready before the typical first frost. Your spring planting is your harvest.

January

Nothing to start this month.

February

  • February 13 to March 13: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • February 27 to March 27: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 13 to April 3: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • March 20 to April 3: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • March 27 to April 10: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)

April

  • April 3 to 17: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • April 3 to 17: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • April 17 to May 1: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • April 17 to May 1: Cauliflower (plant out)

May

  • May 1: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • May 15: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • May 15: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

June

  • June 4 to 18: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 14: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 18: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 19: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 23: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 24: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 28: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 7: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 17: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 27: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 26: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

October

  • October 29 to November 5: Garlic (plant cloves)

November

Nothing to start this month.

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Madison Dane Regional Airport (station USW00014837), 6 miles from the center of Madison. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/wisconsin/madison/

Back to frost dates for Madison