When to plant beets in Wisconsin

Sow outdoors in Milwaukee

Mar 29–May 10

Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 22 and April 9. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee: Mar 29–May 10
Fall planting, Milwaukee: Aug 9–Aug 23
Last frost, Milwaukee: Apr 26

Sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Each beet seed is a cluster that gives several seedlings. Thin them to 3 inches apart.

Beets planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

MilwaukeeMar 29–May 10

MadisonApr 3–May 15

Green BayApr 9–May 21

KenoshaMar 31–May 12

RacineMar 23–May 4

AppletonApr 6–May 18

Eau ClaireMar 27–May 8

WaukeshaApr 3–May 15

OshkoshMar 27–May 8

JanesvilleMar 29–May 10

West AllisMar 29–May 10

La CrosseMar 30–May 11

SheboyganMar 28–May 9

WauwatosaMar 29–May 10

Fond du LacMar 30–May 11

BrookfieldApr 2–May 14

Menomonee FallsApr 8–May 20

WausauApr 8–May 20

New BerlinApr 5–May 17

Sun PrairieApr 3–May 15

Oak CreekMar 25–May 6

GreenfieldApr 5–May 17

FranklinApr 5–May 17

BeloitApr 3–May 15

ManitowocApr 2–May 14

FitchburgApr 3–May 15

West BendApr 3–May 15

Mount PleasantMar 23–May 4

NeenahApr 6–May 18

SuperiorApr 8–May 20

All 43 cities

City	Sow outdoors	Fall planting	Last frost
Milwaukee	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 9 to Aug 23	Apr 26
Madison	Apr 3 to May 15	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 1
Green Bay	Apr 9 to May 21	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 7
Kenosha	Mar 31 to May 12	Aug 10 to Aug 24	Apr 28
Racine	Mar 23 to May 4	Aug 15 to Aug 29	Apr 20
Appleton	Apr 6 to May 18	Jul 28 to Aug 11	May 4
Eau Claire	Mar 27 to May 8	Aug 5 to Aug 19	Apr 24
Waukesha	Apr 3 to May 15	Aug 4 to Aug 18	May 1
Oshkosh	Mar 27 to May 8	Aug 11 to Aug 25	Apr 24
Janesville	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 6 to Aug 20	Apr 26
West Allis	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 13 to Aug 27	Apr 26
La Crosse	Mar 30 to May 11	Aug 4 to Aug 18	Apr 27
Sheboygan	Mar 28 to May 9	Aug 14 to Aug 28	Apr 25
Wauwatosa	Mar 29 to May 10	Aug 9 to Aug 23	Apr 26
Fond du Lac	Mar 30 to May 11	Aug 10 to Aug 24	Apr 27
Brookfield	Apr 2 to May 14	Aug 5 to Aug 19	Apr 30
Menomonee Falls	Apr 8 to May 20	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 6
Wausau	Apr 8 to May 20	Jul 26 to Aug 9	May 6
New Berlin	Apr 5 to May 17	Aug 5 to Aug 19	May 3
Sun Prairie	Apr 3 to May 15	Aug 1 to Aug 15	May 1
Oak Creek	Mar 25 to May 6	Aug 17 to Aug 31	Apr 22
Greenfield	Apr 5 to May 17	Aug 5 to Aug 19	May 3
Franklin	Apr 5 to May 17	Aug 5 to Aug 19	May 3
Beloit	Apr 3 to May 15	Aug 3 to Aug 17	May 1
Manitowoc	Apr 2 to May 14	Aug 11 to Aug 25	Apr 30
Fitchburg	Apr 3 to May 15	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 1
West Bend	Apr 3 to May 15	Aug 3 to Aug 17	May 1
Mount Pleasant	Mar 23 to May 4	Aug 15 to Aug 29	Apr 20
Neenah	Apr 6 to May 18	Jul 28 to Aug 11	May 4
Superior	Apr 8 to May 20	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 6
Stevens Point	Apr 6 to May 18	Jul 29 to Aug 12	May 4
Muskego	Apr 5 to May 17	Aug 5 to Aug 19	May 3
De Pere	Apr 2 to May 14	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 30
Caledonia	Mar 27 to May 8	Aug 15 to Aug 29	Apr 24
Mequon	Apr 8 to May 20	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 6
Middleton	Mar 31 to May 12	Aug 6 to Aug 20	Apr 28
Watertown	Mar 31 to May 12	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 28
Howard	Apr 9 to May 21	Jul 31 to Aug 14	May 7
Pleasant Prairie	Mar 22 to May 3	Aug 17 to Aug 31	Apr 19
Germantown	Apr 8 to May 20	Jul 30 to Aug 13	May 6
Onalaska	Mar 26 to May 7	Aug 8 to Aug 22	Apr 23
South Milwaukee	Mar 25 to May 6	Aug 17 to Aug 31	Apr 22
Oconomowoc	Apr 2 to May 14	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant beets in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors from March 29 to May 10. Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 22 and April 9, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Beets in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin