When to plant in Wauwatosa, WI
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Wauwatosa, Wisconsin — all computed from Wauwatosa's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5b, Wauwatosa gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
MT MARY COLLEGE · 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 Wauwatosa’s own odds, recorded at MT MARY COLLEGE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 24 | May 8 | Apr 24 | Sep 25 | Oct 6 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Oct 2 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
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 Wauwatosa, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 12 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.
Wauwatosa planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Wauwatosa, WI?
Wauwatosa's average last spring frost falls near April 26 — 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 Wauwatosa, WI?
In Wauwatosa, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 18 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Wauwatosa in?
Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa?
Wauwatosa has about 175 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Wauwatosa?
For Wauwatosa, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Wauwatosa
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Wauwatosa’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Milwaukee · 6 km
- West Allis · 6 km
- Brookfield · 7 km
- Glendale · 11 km
- Greenfield · 12 km
- Whitefish Bay · 12 km
- Shorewood · 12 km
- New Berlin · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at MT MARY COLLEGE, 1 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 Wauwatosa, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00475474. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/wauwatosa.