When to plant carrots in Wisconsin

Carrots
Sow outdoors in Milwaukee
Apr 5–May 10

Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 29 and April 16. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
Apr 5–May 10
Fall planting, Milwaukee
Jul 26–Aug 9
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Keep the seedbed moist until carrots come up. They can take two to three weeks to sprout.

Carrots planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeApr 5–May 10
MadisonApr 10–May 15
Green BayApr 16–May 21
KenoshaApr 7–May 12
RacineMar 30–May 4
AppletonApr 13–May 18
Eau ClaireApr 3–May 8
WaukeshaApr 10–May 15
OshkoshApr 3–May 8
JanesvilleApr 5–May 10
West AllisApr 5–May 10
La CrosseApr 6–May 11
SheboyganApr 4–May 9
WauwatosaApr 5–May 10
Fond du LacApr 6–May 11
BrookfieldApr 9–May 14
Menomonee FallsApr 15–May 20
WausauApr 15–May 20
New BerlinApr 12–May 17
Sun PrairieApr 10–May 15
Oak CreekApr 1–May 6
GreenfieldApr 12–May 17
FranklinApr 12–May 17
BeloitApr 10–May 15
ManitowocApr 9–May 14
FitchburgApr 10–May 15
West BendApr 10–May 15
Mount PleasantMar 30–May 4
NeenahApr 13–May 18
SuperiorApr 15–May 20
All 43 cities
CitySow outdoorsFall plantingLast frost
MilwaukeeApr 5 to May 10Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 26
MadisonApr 10 to May 15Jul 17 to Jul 31May 1
Green BayApr 16 to May 21Jul 17 to Jul 31May 7
KenoshaApr 7 to May 12Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 28
RacineMar 30 to May 4Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
AppletonApr 13 to May 18Jul 14 to Jul 28May 4
Eau ClaireApr 3 to May 8Jul 22 to Aug 5Apr 24
WaukeshaApr 10 to May 15Jul 21 to Aug 4May 1
OshkoshApr 3 to May 8Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 24
JanesvilleApr 5 to May 10Jul 23 to Aug 6Apr 26
West AllisApr 5 to May 10Jul 30 to Aug 13Apr 26
La CrosseApr 6 to May 11Jul 21 to Aug 4Apr 27
SheboyganApr 4 to May 9Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 25
WauwatosaApr 5 to May 10Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 26
Fond du LacApr 6 to May 11Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 27
BrookfieldApr 9 to May 14Jul 22 to Aug 5Apr 30
Menomonee FallsApr 15 to May 20Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
WausauApr 15 to May 20Jul 12 to Jul 26May 6
New BerlinApr 12 to May 17Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
Sun PrairieApr 10 to May 15Jul 18 to Aug 1May 1
Oak CreekApr 1 to May 6Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 22
GreenfieldApr 12 to May 17Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
FranklinApr 12 to May 17Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
BeloitApr 10 to May 15Jul 20 to Aug 3May 1
ManitowocApr 9 to May 14Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 30
FitchburgApr 10 to May 15Jul 17 to Jul 31May 1
West BendApr 10 to May 15Jul 20 to Aug 3May 1
Mount PleasantMar 30 to May 4Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
NeenahApr 13 to May 18Jul 14 to Jul 28May 4
SuperiorApr 15 to May 20Jul 17 to Jul 31May 6
Stevens PointApr 13 to May 18Jul 15 to Jul 29May 4
MuskegoApr 12 to May 17Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
De PereApr 9 to May 14Jul 17 to Jul 31Apr 30
CaledoniaApr 3 to May 8Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 24
MequonApr 15 to May 20Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
MiddletonApr 7 to May 12Jul 23 to Aug 6Apr 28
WatertownApr 7 to May 12Jul 20 to Aug 3Apr 28
HowardApr 16 to May 21Jul 17 to Jul 31May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 29 to May 3Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 19
GermantownApr 15 to May 20Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
OnalaskaApr 2 to May 7Jul 25 to Aug 8Apr 23
South MilwaukeeApr 1 to May 6Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 22
OconomowocApr 9 to May 14Jul 20 to Aug 3Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant carrots in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors from April 5 to May 10. Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 29 and April 16, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after 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

Carrots in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin