When to plant in Whitewater, WI
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Whitewater, Wisconsin — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5b, Whitewater gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Whitewater is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WHITEWATER · 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 Whitewater’s own odds, recorded at WHITEWATER.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 1 | May 16 | Apr 30 | Sep 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 20 | May 2 | Apr 18 | Sep 25 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | May 6 | Apr 20 | Apr 6 | Oct 5 | 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 Whitewater, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 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.
Whitewater planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Whitewater, WI?
Plan for the last spring frost in Whitewater around May 2 (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 Whitewater, WI?
The first fall frost in Whitewater typically arrives around October 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Whitewater in?
Whitewater 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 Whitewater?
Whitewater has about 160 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (October 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Whitewater?
For Whitewater, sow tomatoes indoors about March 7–March 21 and move the seedlings out around May 9, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Whitewater
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Whitewater’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Fort Atkinson · 13 km
- Elkhorn · 25 km
- Janesville · 28 km
- Oconomowoc · 35 km
- Watertown · 39 km
- Stoughton · 41 km
- Burlington · 42 km
- Beloit · 42 km
Frost dates recorded at WHITEWATER, 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 Whitewater, WI — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00479190. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/wisconsin/whitewater.