When to plant in La Crosse, WI
USDA Zone 5aLa Crosse, Wisconsin frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5a means La Crosse sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
LA CROSSE WFO · 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 La Crosse’s own odds, recorded at LA CROSSE WFO.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 7 | Apr 24 | Sep 20 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 27 | Apr 12 | Sep 28 | Oct 13 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | May 1 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 | Nov 9 |
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 La Crosse, 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.
La Crosse planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in La Crosse, WI?
La Crosse's average last spring frost falls near April 27 — 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 La Crosse, WI?
Expect La Crosse's first fall frost near October 13 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is La Crosse in?
La Crosse is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in La Crosse?
There are roughly 169 frost-free days in La Crosse (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 27 to the first fall frost near October 13.
When should I plant tomatoes in La Crosse?
In La Crosse, start tomato seeds indoors around March 2–March 16, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 4 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in La Crosse
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to La Crosse’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Onalaska · 7 km
- Holmen · 17 km
- Winona · 44 km
- Rochester · 103 km
- Reedsburg · 104 km
- Eau Claire · 113 km
- Chippewa Falls · 124 km
- Marshfield · 125 km
Frost dates recorded at LA CROSSE WFO, 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 La Crosse, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00474373. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/la-crosse.