.JPG){kind=link}
In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Milwaukee planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 30 – May 4 | May 25 – Jul 26 plant out | Jul 26 – Oct 11 |
| Pepper | Mar 27 – May 1 | Jun 5 – Jul 22 plant out | Aug 5 – Oct 11 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Apr 1 – May 6 | Jun 10 – Jul 19 plant out | Aug 12 – Oct 11 |
| Cucumber | May 2 – May 29 | May 30 – Aug 6 sow | Jul 18 – Oct 11 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | Apr 27 – May 24 | May 25 – Aug 9 sow | Jul 12 – Oct 11 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Apr 27 – May 24 | May 25 – Jul 8 sow | Aug 18 – Oct 24 |
| Watermelon | May 13 – Jun 9 | Jun 10 – Jul 16 sow | Aug 16 – Oct 11 |
| Sweet corn | – | May 15 – Jul 21 sow | Jul 30 – Oct 11 |
| Green beans | – | May 25 – Aug 6 sow | Jul 16 – Oct 11 |
| Peas | – | Apr 8 – May 6, Jul 29 – Aug 25 sow | Jun 22 – Jul 29, Sep 16 – Nov 5 |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 – Mar 27 | Apr 3 – Jun 1, Jul 15 – Sep 5 sow | Jun 10 – Aug 5, Aug 21 – Nov 8 |
| Spinach | – | Mar 29 – May 23, Aug 15 – Sep 9 sow | Jun 5 – Jul 25, Sep 18 – Nov 28 |
| Kale | Feb 20 – Mar 27 | Apr 3 – Aug 29 sow | Jun 17 – Dec 13 |
| Cabbage | Feb 24 – Mar 31 | Apr 14 – Aug 18 plant out | Jun 30 – Nov 19 |
| Broccoli | Feb 24 – Mar 31 | Apr 14 – Aug 25 plant out | Jun 23 – Nov 12 |
| Carrots | – | Apr 14 – Aug 22 sow | Jun 27 – Dec 13 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Apr 14 – Aug 29 sow | Jun 19 – Nov 19 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 3 – Jun 15, Jul 28 – Sep 23 sow | May 22 – Jul 19, Aug 18 – Nov 12 |
| Onions | Jan 28 – Mar 4 | Apr 8 – Jul 29 plant out | Jul 17 – Oct 29 |
| Garlic | – | Oct 3 – Nov 6 sow | Jun 14 – Jul 4 |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 19 – Aug 1 sow | Jul 16 – Oct 29 |
| Swiss chard | – | Apr 19 – Sep 2 sow | Jun 17 – Nov 19 |
| Basil | Apr 24 – May 22 | Jun 5 – Aug 25 plant out | Jul 3 – Oct 11 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Apr 14 – Jun 7, Jul 20 – Sep 13 sow | Jun 4 – Aug 3, Aug 19 – Nov 12 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 – Mar 29 | Apr 19 – Aug 18 sow | Jul 2 – Nov 28 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Milwaukee
- Average last spring frost
- April 19
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- May 2
- Average first autumn frost
- October 29
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- October 15
- Frost-free growing season
- 192 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Milwaukee Mitchell Ap (9 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 6a from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- -22°C-8°F
- Warmest month
- July, highs 28°C82°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows -9°C15°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 25 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Worked out from the coldest night of each year 1991–2020 at the NOAA station. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C31°F | -9°C15°F | -5°C23°F | 41 mm1.6 in |
| February | 2°C35°F | -7°C19°F | -3°C27°F | 40 mm1.6 in |
| March | 7°C44°F | -2°C28°F | 2°C36°F | 49 mm1.9 in |
| April | 13°C56°F | 3°C37°F | 8°C46°F | 97 mm3.8 in |
| May | 20°C67°F | 8°C47°F | 14°C57°F | 89 mm3.5 in |
| June | 25°C77°F | 14°C56°F | 19°C67°F | 100 mm3.9 in |
| July | 28°C82°F | 17°C62°F | 22°C72°F | 82 mm3.2 in |
| August | 27°C80°F | 16°C61°F | 21°C71°F | 97 mm3.8 in |
| September | 23°C73°F | 12°C54°F | 18°C64°F | 84 mm3.3 in |
| October | 16°C61°F | 6°C42°F | 11°C52°F | 68 mm2.7 in |
| November | 8°C46°F | 0°C31°F | 4°C39°F | 52 mm2.0 in |
| December | 2°C35°F | -6°C21°F | -2°C28°F | 50 mm2.0 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).