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When to plant in Oconomowoc, WI

USDA Zone 5b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Oconomowoc, Wisconsin — all computed from Oconomowoc's nearest NOAA weather station.

Zone 5b means Oconomowoc sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · OCONOMOWOC WWTP · 0.7 km
Last spring frost
April 30
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 12
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
165 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for OconomowocA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Oconomowoc: last spring frost around April 30, first fall frost around October 12, about 165 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

OCONOMOWOC WWTP · 1991–2020

The 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 Oconomowoc’s own odds, recorded at OCONOMOWOC WWTP.

Frost-probability curves for OconomowocProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 165 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 28May 12Apr 27Sep 20Oct 2Oct 14
32°FMay 17Apr 30Apr 16Sep 29Oct 12Oct 27
28°FMay 3Apr 19Apr 5Oct 9Oct 24Nov 5

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 6July 20
Fall sowin 1 days
Broccoli
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cabbage
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Carrot
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Cauliflower
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 1 days
Napa Cabbage
July 20August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Beet
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Collards
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Endive
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Escarole
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Kale
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Kohlrabi
August 3August 31
Fall sowin 15 days
Peas
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Radicchio
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Swiss Chard
August 3August 17
Fall sowin 15 days
Turnip
August 3August 31

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Oconomowoc, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 21 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

OCONOMOWOC WWTP
Primary
1 km · 262 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 30
FALL
Oct 12
SULLIVAN 3SE
15 km · 284 m elevation
SPRING
May 3
FALL
Oct 9
WATERTOWN WWTP
21 km · 252 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 28
FALL
Oct 12

Oconomowoc planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Oconomowoc, WI?

On average, the last spring frost in Oconomowoc is around April 30 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Oconomowoc, WI?

The first fall frost in Oconomowoc typically arrives around October 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Oconomowoc in?

Oconomowoc 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 Oconomowoc?

There are roughly 165 frost-free days in Oconomowoc (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 30 to the first fall frost near October 12.

When should I plant tomatoes in Oconomowoc?

In Oconomowoc, start tomato seeds indoors around March 5–March 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 7 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Oconomowoc

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Oconomowoc’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at OCONOMOWOC WWTP, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Oconomowoc, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00476200. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/oconomowoc.
When to Plant in Oconomowoc, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b — BlissGarden