When to plant in Fort Atkinson, WI
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5b, Fort Atkinson gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Fort Atkinson is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
FT ATKINSON · 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 Fort Atkinson’s own odds, recorded at FT ATKINSON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 10 | Apr 25 | Sep 20 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 17 | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | May 3 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 7 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
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 Fort Atkinson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 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.
Fort Atkinson planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Atkinson, WI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Fort Atkinson around April 28 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Fort Atkinson, WI?
In Fort Atkinson, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 13 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fort Atkinson in?
Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson?
Fort Atkinson has about 168 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 28) and first fall frost (October 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Atkinson?
For Fort Atkinson, sow tomatoes indoors about March 3–March 17 and move the seedlings out around May 5, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Fort Atkinson
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Atkinson’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Whitewater · 13 km
- Janesville · 30 km
- Stoughton · 31 km
- Watertown · 31 km
- Oconomowoc · 35 km
- Elkhorn · 38 km
- Sun Prairie · 43 km
- Oregon · 44 km
Frost dates recorded at FT ATKINSON, 2 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 Fort Atkinson, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00472869. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/fort-atkinson.