When to plant in Howard, WI
USDA Zone 5bHoward, 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, Howard gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
GREEN BAY BOTANICAL · 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 Howard’s own odds, recorded at GREEN BAY BOTANICAL.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 19 | May 4 | Sep 15 | Sep 28 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 22 | May 7 | Apr 24 | Sep 23 | Oct 9 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | May 12 | Apr 27 | Apr 10 | Oct 5 | Oct 25 | 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 Howard, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 8 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.
Howard planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Howard, WI?
Howard's average last spring frost falls near May 7 — 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 Howard, WI?
Expect Howard's first fall frost near October 9 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Howard in?
Howard 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 Howard?
Howard has about 155 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (October 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Howard?
For Howard, sow tomatoes indoors about March 12–March 26 and move the seedlings out around May 14, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Howard
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Howard’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at GREEN BAY BOTANICAL, 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 Howard, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00473271. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/howard.