When to plant in Platteville, WI
USDA Zone 5aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Platteville, Wisconsin — all computed from Platteville's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5a, Platteville gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Platteville is now 9 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PLATTEVILLE · 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 Platteville’s own odds, recorded at PLATTEVILLE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 8 | Apr 25 | Sep 20 | Oct 3 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 13 | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 17 | Apr 3 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 | 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 Platteville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 28 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.
Platteville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Platteville, WI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Platteville around April 30 (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 Platteville, WI?
The first fall frost in Platteville typically arrives around October 13 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Platteville in?
Platteville 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 Platteville?
Platteville has about 166 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Platteville?
For Platteville, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Platteville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Platteville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at PLATTEVILLE, 2 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 Platteville, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00476646. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/platteville.