When to plant garlic in Wisconsin
Wisconsin spans USDA zones 4b–6a, so the right time to plant garlic shifts by weeks across the state. The window to plant for fall/overwintering runs from about September 2 in Wisconsin Rapids to October 1 in Cudahy — below are local dates for 97 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Fall-plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 6a | April 26 | October 18 | September 20 – October 4 |
| Madison | 5a | May 1 | October 9 | September 11 – September 25 |
| Green Bay | 5b | May 7 | October 9 | September 11 – September 25 |
| Kenosha | 5b | April 28 | October 19 | September 21 – October 5 |
| Racine | 6a | April 20 | October 24 | September 26 – October 10 |
| Appleton | 5b | May 4 | October 6 | September 8 – September 22 |
| Waukesha | 5b | May 1 | October 13 | September 15 – September 29 |
| Eau Claire | 4b | April 24 | October 14 | September 16 – September 30 |
Garlic in Wisconsin: FAQ
When can I plant garlic in Wisconsin?
Across Wisconsin, the time to fall-plant garlic spans roughly September 2 in Wisconsin Rapids to October 1 in Cudahy, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the garlic planting date vary across Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin publishes 97 cities with their own frost dates, so the right garlic planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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