When to plant in Milwaukee, WI
USDA Zone 6aMilwaukee, 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 6a, Milwaukee gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
MT MARY COLLEGE · 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 Milwaukee’s own odds, recorded at MT MARY COLLEGE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 24 | May 8 | Apr 24 | Sep 25 | Oct 6 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Oct 2 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
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 Milwaukee, 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.
Milwaukee planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Milwaukee, WI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Milwaukee around April 26 (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 Milwaukee, WI?
The first fall frost in Milwaukee typically arrives around October 18 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Milwaukee in?
Milwaukee is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee has about 175 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Milwaukee?
For Milwaukee, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Milwaukee
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Milwaukee’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Wauwatosa · 6 km
- Shorewood · 7 km
- Glendale · 8 km
- Whitefish Bay · 8 km
- West Allis · 8 km
- Greenfield · 12 km
- Brookfield · 12 km
- Brown Deer · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at MT MARY COLLEGE, 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 Milwaukee, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00475474. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/milwaukee.