When to plant in Burlington, WI
USDA Zone 5bBurlington, Wisconsin frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 5b, Burlington gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
BURLINGTON · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Burlington’s own odds, recorded at BURLINGTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 17 | May 2 | Sep 17 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 23 | May 5 | Apr 21 | Sep 24 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | May 11 | Apr 24 | Apr 8 | Oct 3 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Burlington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Burlington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Burlington, WI?
Burlington's average last spring frost falls near May 5 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Burlington, WI?
The first fall frost in Burlington typically arrives around October 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Burlington in?
Burlington is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Burlington?
Burlington has about 157 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (October 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Burlington?
For Burlington, sow tomatoes indoors about March 10–March 24 and move the seedlings out around May 12, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Burlington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Burlington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Salem Lakes · 19 km
- Elkhorn · 22 km
- Muskego · 25 km
- Antioch · 28 km
- Fox Lake · 28 km
- Franklin · 31 km
- Mount Pleasant · 32 km
- Kenosha · 34 km
Frost dates recorded at BURLINGTON, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Burlington, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00471205. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/burlington.