In Milwaukee, WI, the average last spring frost is Apr 19 and the average first fall frost is Oct 29, which leaves about 192 frost-free days for the garden. These dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, WI weather station, at 670 feet above sea level.
A long season lets you do more than one planting: a spring crop, a second planting of quick crops in summer, and a fall garden. Succession planting works well here. Frost timing varies from year to year: in about 1 spring in 10 the last frost falls as late as May 2, and in about 1 fall in 10 the first frost arrives as early as Oct 15.
Frost dates for Milwaukee, WI
| Chance of a freeze (32°F) after or before this date | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Freeze-free season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic (about 1 year in 10) | Apr 6 | Nov 10 | 218 days |
| Average (half of years) | Apr 19 | Oct 29 | 192 days |
| Cautious (9 years in 10 are safe) | May 2 | Oct 15 | 166 days |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020. Use the cautious dates for tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers.
When to plant in Milwaukee, WI
These windows count weeks forward and back from the average frost dates above. They are planning guides: check the forecast before planting tender crops, and see our what to plant now tool for today's date.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors in spring | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 3 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 8 to Feb 22 | May 3 to May 10 | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 8 to Feb 22 | May 3 to May 10 | – |
| Onions | Feb 8 to Feb 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | – |
| Parsley | Feb 8 to Feb 22 | Apr 19 to Apr 26 | – |
| Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to Apr 12 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Basil | Mar 8 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 3 | – |
| Peas | Sow outdoors | Mar 8 to Mar 22 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors | Mar 8 to Mar 22 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors | Mar 8 to Mar 22 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Beets | Sow outdoors | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Potatoes | Sow outdoors | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | – |
| Kale | Sow outdoors | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Swiss chard | Sow outdoors | Apr 5 to Apr 19 | – |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors | Apr 5 to Apr 19 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors | Apr 19 to Apr 26 | – |
| Bush beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 to May 3 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Pole beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 to May 3 | – |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 to May 3 | – |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 to May 3 | Jul 16 to Jul 30 |
| Zucchini and summer squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 to May 3 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Winter squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 to May 3 | – |
| Sweet potatoes (slips) | Sow outdoors | May 3 to May 17 | – |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 3 to May 17 | – |
A dash in the fall column means the crop is not usually planted in fall, or the season is too short.
Overnight lows this week
The National Weather Service forecast shows frost risk on: Sat 14 night (28°F), Sun 15 night (30°F), Mon 16 night (34°F). Cover tender plants before dark on those nights.
| Night | Forecast low | Frost risk |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 14 night | 28°F | Freeze |
| Sun 15 night | 30°F | Freeze |
| Mon 16 night | 34°F | Frost possible |
| Tue 17 night | 40°F | No frost expected |
| Wed 18 night | 46°F | No frost expected |
| Thu 19 night | 45°F | No frost expected |
| Fri 20 night | 49°F | No frost expected |
Live forecast for the station location, from the National Weather Service. For your own ZIP code, use our garden weather forecast.
More garden tools for Milwaukee, WI
- Frost dates by ZIP code for your exact location
- What to plant now, based on today's date
- Garden weather forecast by ZIP code
- Safe transplant date calculator
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Milwaukee, WI?
The average last spring frost is Apr 19. A late frost as far out as May 2 happens in about 1 year in 10, so tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers are safest after that cautious date.
When is the first frost in Milwaukee, WI?
The average first fall frost is Oct 29. It can arrive as early as Oct 15 in about 1 year in 10, so plan to harvest tender crops before then.
How long is the growing season in Milwaukee, WI?
The average freeze-free season is about 192 days, between the average last spring frost and the average first fall frost.
Where do these dates come from?
They come from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, WI station. Hills, valleys, lakes and city heat can shift frost by a week or more, so compare with neighbors who garden near you.