When to plant cauliflower in Wisconsin

Plant out in Milwaukee

Apr 12–Apr 26

Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 5 and April 23. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

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

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. When heads reach the size of an egg, tie the leaves over them to keep them white.

Cauliflower planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

MilwaukeeApr 12–Apr 26

MadisonApr 17–May 1

Green BayApr 23–May 7

KenoshaApr 14–Apr 28

RacineApr 6–Apr 20

AppletonApr 20–May 4

Eau ClaireApr 10–Apr 24

WaukeshaApr 17–May 1

OshkoshApr 10–Apr 24

JanesvilleApr 12–Apr 26

West AllisApr 12–Apr 26

La CrosseApr 13–Apr 27

SheboyganApr 11–Apr 25

WauwatosaApr 12–Apr 26

Fond du LacApr 13–Apr 27

BrookfieldApr 16–Apr 30

Menomonee FallsApr 22–May 6

WausauApr 22–May 6

New BerlinApr 19–May 3

Sun PrairieApr 17–May 1

Oak CreekApr 8–Apr 22

GreenfieldApr 19–May 3

FranklinApr 19–May 3

BeloitApr 17–May 1

ManitowocApr 16–Apr 30

FitchburgApr 17–May 1

West BendApr 17–May 1

Mount PleasantApr 6–Apr 20

NeenahApr 20–May 4

SuperiorApr 22–May 6

All 43 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Fall planting	Last frost
Milwaukee	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Jul 26 to Aug 9	Apr 26
Madison	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Jul 17 to Jul 31	May 1
Green Bay	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 23 to May 7	Jul 17 to Jul 31	May 7
Kenosha	Feb 17 to Mar 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Jul 27 to Aug 10	Apr 28
Racine	Feb 9 to Feb 23	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 20
Appleton	Feb 23 to Mar 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Jul 14 to Jul 28	May 4
Eau Claire	Feb 13 to Feb 27	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Jul 22 to Aug 5	Apr 24
Waukesha	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Jul 21 to Aug 4	May 1
Oshkosh	Feb 13 to Feb 27	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Jul 28 to Aug 11	Apr 24
Janesville	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Jul 23 to Aug 6	Apr 26
West Allis	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Jul 30 to Aug 13	Apr 26
La Crosse	Feb 16 to Mar 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Jul 21 to Aug 4	Apr 27
Sheboygan	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Jul 31 to Aug 14	Apr 25
Wauwatosa	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Jul 26 to Aug 9	Apr 26
Fond du Lac	Feb 16 to Mar 2	Apr 13 to Apr 27	Jul 27 to Aug 10	Apr 27
Brookfield	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Jul 22 to Aug 5	Apr 30
Menomonee Falls	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Jul 16 to Jul 30	May 6
Wausau	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Jul 12 to Jul 26	May 6
New Berlin	Feb 22 to Mar 8	Apr 19 to May 3	Jul 22 to Aug 5	May 3
Sun Prairie	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Jul 18 to Aug 1	May 1
Oak Creek	Feb 11 to Feb 25	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 22
Greenfield	Feb 22 to Mar 8	Apr 19 to May 3	Jul 22 to Aug 5	May 3
Franklin	Feb 22 to Mar 8	Apr 19 to May 3	Jul 22 to Aug 5	May 3
Beloit	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Jul 20 to Aug 3	May 1
Manitowoc	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Jul 28 to Aug 11	Apr 30
Fitchburg	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Jul 17 to Jul 31	May 1
West Bend	Feb 20 to Mar 6	Apr 17 to May 1	Jul 20 to Aug 3	May 1
Mount Pleasant	Feb 9 to Feb 23	Apr 6 to Apr 20	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 20
Neenah	Feb 23 to Mar 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Jul 14 to Jul 28	May 4
Superior	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Jul 17 to Jul 31	May 6
Stevens Point	Feb 23 to Mar 9	Apr 20 to May 4	Jul 15 to Jul 29	May 4
Muskego	Feb 22 to Mar 8	Apr 19 to May 3	Jul 22 to Aug 5	May 3
De Pere	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Jul 17 to Jul 31	Apr 30
Caledonia	Feb 13 to Feb 27	Apr 10 to Apr 24	Aug 1 to Aug 15	Apr 24
Mequon	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Jul 16 to Jul 30	May 6
Middleton	Feb 17 to Mar 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Jul 23 to Aug 6	Apr 28
Watertown	Feb 17 to Mar 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Jul 20 to Aug 3	Apr 28
Howard	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 23 to May 7	Jul 17 to Jul 31	May 7
Pleasant Prairie	Feb 8 to Feb 22	Apr 5 to Apr 19	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 19
Germantown	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 22 to May 6	Jul 16 to Jul 30	May 6
Onalaska	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Apr 9 to Apr 23	Jul 25 to Aug 8	Apr 23
South Milwaukee	Feb 11 to Feb 25	Apr 8 to Apr 22	Aug 3 to Aug 17	Apr 22
Oconomowoc	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Jul 20 to Aug 3	Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant cauliflower in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from April 12 to April 26. Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 5 and April 23, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 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

Cauliflower in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin