When to plant in Wausau, WI
USDA Zone 4bWausau, 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 4b, Wausau winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
Frost probability
WAUSAU DWTN 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 Wausau’s own odds, recorded at WAUSAU DWTN AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 19 | May 4 | Sep 12 | Sep 25 | Oct 7 |
| 32°F | May 21 | May 6 | Apr 24 | Sep 21 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | May 10 | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Oct 31 |
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 Wausau, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 39 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.
Wausau planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Wausau, WI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Wausau around May 6 (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 Wausau, WI?
Expect Wausau's first fall frost near October 4 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Wausau in?
Wausau is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. In zone 4b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Wausau?
Wausau has about 151 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (October 4).
When should I plant tomatoes in Wausau?
For Wausau, sow tomatoes indoors about March 11–March 25 and move the seedlings out around May 13, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Wausau
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Wausau’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Weston · 11 km
- Stevens Point · 49 km
- Marshfield · 53 km
- Plover · 56 km
- Wisconsin Rapids · 65 km
- Greenville · 115 km
- Fox Crossing · 124 km
- Appleton · 125 km
Frost dates recorded at WAUSAU DWTN AP, 4 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 Wausau, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014897. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/wausau.