When to plant broccoli in Wisconsin

Broccoli
Plant out in Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 12

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.

Start indoors, Milwaukee
Feb 15–Mar 1
Plant out, Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 12
Fall planting, Milwaukee
Jul 26–Aug 9
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Broccoli grown for a fall harvest often tastes sweeter than spring broccoli. Light frost improves it.

Broccoli planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeMar 29–Apr 12
MadisonApr 3–Apr 17
Green BayApr 9–Apr 23
KenoshaMar 31–Apr 14
RacineMar 23–Apr 6
AppletonApr 6–Apr 20
Eau ClaireMar 27–Apr 10
WaukeshaApr 3–Apr 17
OshkoshMar 27–Apr 10
JanesvilleMar 29–Apr 12
West AllisMar 29–Apr 12
La CrosseMar 30–Apr 13
SheboyganMar 28–Apr 11
WauwatosaMar 29–Apr 12
Fond du LacMar 30–Apr 13
BrookfieldApr 2–Apr 16
Menomonee FallsApr 8–Apr 22
WausauApr 8–Apr 22
New BerlinApr 5–Apr 19
Sun PrairieApr 3–Apr 17
Oak CreekMar 25–Apr 8
GreenfieldApr 5–Apr 19
FranklinApr 5–Apr 19
BeloitApr 3–Apr 17
ManitowocApr 2–Apr 16
FitchburgApr 3–Apr 17
West BendApr 3–Apr 17
Mount PleasantMar 23–Apr 6
NeenahApr 6–Apr 20
SuperiorApr 8–Apr 22
All 43 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outFall plantingLast frost
MilwaukeeFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 26
MadisonFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to Apr 17Jul 17 to Jul 31May 1
Green BayFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 9 to Apr 23Jul 17 to Jul 31May 7
KenoshaFeb 17 to Mar 3Mar 31 to Apr 14Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 28
RacineFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
AppletonFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 6 to Apr 20Jul 14 to Jul 28May 4
Eau ClaireFeb 13 to Feb 27Mar 27 to Apr 10Jul 22 to Aug 5Apr 24
WaukeshaFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to Apr 17Jul 21 to Aug 4May 1
OshkoshFeb 13 to Feb 27Mar 27 to Apr 10Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 24
JanesvilleFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Jul 23 to Aug 6Apr 26
West AllisFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Jul 30 to Aug 13Apr 26
La CrosseFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 30 to Apr 13Jul 21 to Aug 4Apr 27
SheboyganFeb 14 to Feb 28Mar 28 to Apr 11Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 25
WauwatosaFeb 15 to Mar 1Mar 29 to Apr 12Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 26
Fond du LacFeb 16 to Mar 2Mar 30 to Apr 13Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 27
BrookfieldFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 2 to Apr 16Jul 22 to Aug 5Apr 30
Menomonee FallsFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 8 to Apr 22Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
WausauFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 8 to Apr 22Jul 12 to Jul 26May 6
New BerlinFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
Sun PrairieFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to Apr 17Jul 18 to Aug 1May 1
Oak CreekFeb 11 to Feb 25Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 22
GreenfieldFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
FranklinFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
BeloitFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to Apr 17Jul 20 to Aug 3May 1
ManitowocFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 2 to Apr 16Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 30
FitchburgFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to Apr 17Jul 17 to Jul 31May 1
West BendFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 3 to Apr 17Jul 20 to Aug 3May 1
Mount PleasantFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
NeenahFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 6 to Apr 20Jul 14 to Jul 28May 4
SuperiorFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 8 to Apr 22Jul 17 to Jul 31May 6
Stevens PointFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 6 to Apr 20Jul 15 to Jul 29May 4
MuskegoFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
De PereFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 2 to Apr 16Jul 17 to Jul 31Apr 30
CaledoniaFeb 13 to Feb 27Mar 27 to Apr 10Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 24
MequonFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 8 to Apr 22Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
MiddletonFeb 17 to Mar 3Mar 31 to Apr 14Jul 23 to Aug 6Apr 28
WatertownFeb 17 to Mar 3Mar 31 to Apr 14Jul 20 to Aug 3Apr 28
HowardFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 9 to Apr 23Jul 17 to Jul 31May 7
Pleasant PrairieFeb 8 to Feb 22Mar 22 to Apr 5Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 19
GermantownFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 8 to Apr 22Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
OnalaskaFeb 12 to Feb 26Mar 26 to Apr 9Jul 25 to Aug 8Apr 23
South MilwaukeeFeb 11 to Feb 25Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 22
OconomowocFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 2 to Apr 16Jul 20 to Aug 3Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant broccoli in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from March 29 to April 12. Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 22 and April 9, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Broccoli in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin