When to plant basil in Wisconsin

Basil
Plant out in Milwaukee
May 3–May 17

Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 26 and May 14. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Milwaukee
Mar 15–Mar 29
Plant out, Milwaukee
May 3–May 17
Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
May 3–May 17
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 21
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeMay 3–May 17
MadisonMay 8–May 22
Green BayMay 14–May 28
KenoshaMay 5–May 19
RacineApr 27–May 11
AppletonMay 11–May 25
Eau ClaireMay 1–May 15
WaukeshaMay 8–May 22
OshkoshMay 1–May 15
JanesvilleMay 3–May 17
West AllisMay 3–May 17
La CrosseMay 4–May 18
SheboyganMay 2–May 16
WauwatosaMay 3–May 17
Fond du LacMay 4–May 18
BrookfieldMay 7–May 21
Menomonee FallsMay 13–May 27
WausauMay 13–May 27
New BerlinMay 10–May 24
Sun PrairieMay 8–May 22
Oak CreekApr 29–May 13
GreenfieldMay 10–May 24
FranklinMay 10–May 24
BeloitMay 8–May 22
ManitowocMay 7–May 21
FitchburgMay 8–May 22
West BendMay 8–May 22
Mount PleasantApr 27–May 11
NeenahMay 11–May 25
SuperiorMay 13–May 27
All 43 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
MilwaukeeMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
MadisonMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
Green BayMar 26 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28May 7
KenoshaMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
RacineMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
AppletonMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
Eau ClaireMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
WaukeshaMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
OshkoshMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
JanesvilleMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
West AllisMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
La CrosseMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
SheboyganMar 14 to Mar 28May 2 to May 16May 2 to May 16Apr 25
WauwatosaMar 15 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 26
Fond du LacMar 16 to Mar 30May 4 to May 18May 4 to May 18Apr 27
BrookfieldMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
Menomonee FallsMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
WausauMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
New BerlinMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
Sun PrairieMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
Oak CreekMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
GreenfieldMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
FranklinMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
BeloitMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
ManitowocMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
FitchburgMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
West BendMar 20 to Apr 3May 8 to May 22May 8 to May 22May 1
Mount PleasantMar 9 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 20
NeenahMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
SuperiorMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
Stevens PointMar 23 to Apr 6May 11 to May 25May 11 to May 25May 4
MuskegoMar 22 to Apr 5May 10 to May 24May 10 to May 24May 3
De PereMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30
CaledoniaMar 13 to Mar 27May 1 to May 15May 1 to May 15Apr 24
MequonMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
MiddletonMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
WatertownMar 17 to Mar 31May 5 to May 19May 5 to May 19Apr 28
HowardMar 26 to Apr 9May 14 to May 28May 14 to May 28May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
GermantownMar 25 to Apr 8May 13 to May 27May 13 to May 27May 6
OnalaskaMar 12 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMar 11 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 22
OconomowocMar 19 to Apr 2May 7 to May 21May 7 to May 21Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant basil in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from May 3 to May 17. Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 26 and May 14, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin