When to plant in Oshkosh, WI
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Oshkosh, Wisconsin — all computed from Oshkosh's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Oshkosh sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Oshkosh is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
OSHKOSH · 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 Oshkosh’s own odds, recorded at OSHKOSH.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Sep 24 | Oct 6 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 24 | Apr 10 | Oct 4 | Oct 20 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Apr 26 | Apr 13 | Mar 31 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
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 Oshkosh, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
Oshkosh planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Oshkosh, WI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Oshkosh around April 24 (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 Oshkosh, WI?
In Oshkosh, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 20 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Oshkosh in?
Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh?
There are roughly 179 frost-free days in Oshkosh (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 20.
When should I plant tomatoes in Oshkosh?
In Oshkosh, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Oshkosh
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Oshkosh’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Neenah · 17 km
- Fox Crossing · 23 km
- Menasha · 24 km
- Harrison · 28 km
- Greenville · 29 km
- Fond du Lac · 30 km
- Appleton · 32 km
- Little Chute · 35 km
Frost dates recorded at OSHKOSH, 0 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 Oshkosh, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00476330. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/oshkosh.