When to plant in Madison, WI
USDA Zone 5aMadison, 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 5a, Madison gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
UW ARBORETUM - MADISON · 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 Madison’s own odds, recorded at UW ARBORETUM - MADISON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 30 | May 13 | Apr 29 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 17 | May 1 | Apr 18 | Sep 26 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | May 3 | Apr 20 | Apr 7 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 | Nov 3 |
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 Madison, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 9 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.
Madison planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Madison, WI?
Madison's average last spring frost falls near May 1 — 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 Madison, WI?
In Madison, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 9 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Madison in?
Madison 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 Madison?
Madison has about 161 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (October 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Madison?
For Madison, sow tomatoes indoors about March 6–March 20 and move the seedlings out around May 8, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Madison
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Madison’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at UW ARBORETUM - MADISON, 5 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 Madison, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00470273. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/madison.