When to plant collard greens in Wisconsin

Collard greens
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.

Plant out, Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 12
Fall planting, Milwaukee
Jul 26–Aug 9
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Collards handle both heat and frost better than most greens.

Collard greens 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
CityPlant outFall plantingLast frost
MilwaukeeMar 29 to Apr 12Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 26
MadisonApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 17 to Jul 31May 1
Green BayApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 17 to Jul 31May 7
KenoshaMar 31 to Apr 14Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 28
RacineMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
AppletonApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 14 to Jul 28May 4
Eau ClaireMar 27 to Apr 10Jul 22 to Aug 5Apr 24
WaukeshaApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 21 to Aug 4May 1
OshkoshMar 27 to Apr 10Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 24
JanesvilleMar 29 to Apr 12Jul 23 to Aug 6Apr 26
West AllisMar 29 to Apr 12Jul 30 to Aug 13Apr 26
La CrosseMar 30 to Apr 13Jul 21 to Aug 4Apr 27
SheboyganMar 28 to Apr 11Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 25
WauwatosaMar 29 to Apr 12Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 26
Fond du LacMar 30 to Apr 13Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 27
BrookfieldApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 22 to Aug 5Apr 30
Menomonee FallsApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
WausauApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 12 to Jul 26May 6
New BerlinApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
Sun PrairieApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 18 to Aug 1May 1
Oak CreekMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 22
GreenfieldApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
FranklinApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
BeloitApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 20 to Aug 3May 1
ManitowocApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 30
FitchburgApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 17 to Jul 31May 1
West BendApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 20 to Aug 3May 1
Mount PleasantMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
NeenahApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 14 to Jul 28May 4
SuperiorApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 17 to Jul 31May 6
Stevens PointApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 15 to Jul 29May 4
MuskegoApr 5 to Apr 19Jul 22 to Aug 5May 3
De PereApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 17 to Jul 31Apr 30
CaledoniaMar 27 to Apr 10Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 24
MequonApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
MiddletonMar 31 to Apr 14Jul 23 to Aug 6Apr 28
WatertownMar 31 to Apr 14Jul 20 to Aug 3Apr 28
HowardApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 17 to Jul 31May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 19
GermantownApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 16 to Jul 30May 6
OnalaskaMar 26 to Apr 9Jul 25 to Aug 8Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 22
OconomowocApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 20 to Aug 3Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant collard greens 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?

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

Collard greens in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin