When to plant in Eau Claire, WI
USDA Zone 4bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Eau Claire, Wisconsin — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 4b is cold — in Eau Claire, most perennials must be fully hardy, and your frost dates set a tight window for tender annual vegetables.
Frost probability
EAU CLAIRE 3SW · 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 Eau Claire’s own odds, recorded at EAU CLAIRE 3SW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | May 5 | Apr 20 | Sep 19 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Sep 26 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 10 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 |
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 Eau Claire, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 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.
Eau Claire planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Eau Claire, WI?
Eau Claire's average last spring frost falls near April 24 — 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 Eau Claire, WI?
The first fall frost in Eau Claire typically arrives around October 14 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Eau Claire in?
Eau Claire is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. In zone 4b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Eau Claire?
There are roughly 173 frost-free days in Eau Claire (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 14.
When should I plant tomatoes in Eau Claire?
In Eau Claire, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Eau Claire
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Eau Claire’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Chippewa Falls · 15 km
- Menomonie · 34 km
- Winona · 86 km
- River Falls · 89 km
- New Richmond · 90 km
- Red Wing · 92 km
- Holmen · 96 km
- Hudson · 99 km
Frost dates recorded at EAU CLAIRE 3SW, 4 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 Eau Claire, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00472425. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/eau-claire.