When to plant butternut squash in Wisconsin

Butternut squash
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
May 3–May 17
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 16
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Leave fruit on the vine until the skin is hard and the stem starts to dry.

Butternut squash 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
MilwaukeeMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
MadisonMay 8 to May 22May 1
Green BayMay 14 to May 28May 7
KenoshaMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
RacineApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
AppletonMay 11 to May 25May 4
Eau ClaireMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
WaukeshaMay 8 to May 22May 1
OshkoshMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
JanesvilleMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
West AllisMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
La CrosseMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
SheboyganMay 2 to May 16Apr 25
WauwatosaMay 3 to May 17Apr 26
Fond du LacMay 4 to May 18Apr 27
BrookfieldMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
Menomonee FallsMay 13 to May 27May 6
WausauMay 13 to May 27May 6
New BerlinMay 10 to May 24May 3
Sun PrairieMay 8 to May 22May 1
Oak CreekApr 29 to May 13Apr 22
GreenfieldMay 10 to May 24May 3
FranklinMay 10 to May 24May 3
BeloitMay 8 to May 22May 1
ManitowocMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
FitchburgMay 8 to May 22May 1
West BendMay 8 to May 22May 1
Mount PleasantApr 27 to May 11Apr 20
NeenahMay 11 to May 25May 4
SuperiorMay 13 to May 27May 6
Stevens PointMay 11 to May 25May 4
MuskegoMay 10 to May 24May 3
De PereMay 7 to May 21Apr 30
CaledoniaMay 1 to May 15Apr 24
MequonMay 13 to May 27May 6
MiddletonMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
WatertownMay 5 to May 19Apr 28
HowardMay 14 to May 28May 7
Pleasant PrairieApr 26 to May 10Apr 19
GermantownMay 13 to May 27May 6
OnalaskaApr 30 to May 14Apr 23
South MilwaukeeApr 29 to May 13Apr 22
OconomowocMay 7 to May 21Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant butternut squash in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors 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?

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

Butternut squash in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin