When to plant in Waunakee, WI
USDA Zone 5aWaunakee, 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, Waunakee gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Waunakee is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MADISON DANE RGNL AP · 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 Waunakee’s own odds, recorded at MADISON DANE RGNL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 29 | May 13 | Apr 29 | Sep 17 | Sep 29 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 16 | May 1 | Apr 16 | Sep 26 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | May 5 | Apr 20 | Apr 5 | Oct 6 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
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 Waunakee, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Waunakee planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Waunakee, WI?
Waunakee'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 Waunakee, WI?
The first fall frost in Waunakee typically arrives around October 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Waunakee in?
Waunakee 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 Waunakee?
Waunakee has about 162 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (October 10).
When should I plant tomatoes in Waunakee?
For Waunakee, 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 Waunakee
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Waunakee’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MADISON DANE RGNL AP, 9 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 Waunakee, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014837. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/waunakee.