When to plant cucumbers in Wisconsin

Plant out in Milwaukee

May 10–May 17

Across Wisconsin the window opens between May 3 and May 21. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Milwaukee: Mar 29–Apr 5
Plant out, Milwaukee: May 10–May 17
Sow outdoors, Milwaukee: May 3–May 17
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 26
Last frost, Milwaukee: Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Cucumbers rot in cold soil. Sow when the soil is at least 65°F.

Cucumbers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

MilwaukeeMay 10–May 17

MadisonMay 15–May 22

Green BayMay 21–May 28

KenoshaMay 12–May 19

RacineMay 4–May 11

AppletonMay 18–May 25

Eau ClaireMay 8–May 15

WaukeshaMay 15–May 22

OshkoshMay 8–May 15

JanesvilleMay 10–May 17

West AllisMay 10–May 17

La CrosseMay 11–May 18

SheboyganMay 9–May 16

WauwatosaMay 10–May 17

Fond du LacMay 11–May 18

BrookfieldMay 14–May 21

Menomonee FallsMay 20–May 27

WausauMay 20–May 27

New BerlinMay 17–May 24

Sun PrairieMay 15–May 22

Oak CreekMay 6–May 13

GreenfieldMay 17–May 24

FranklinMay 17–May 24

BeloitMay 15–May 22

ManitowocMay 14–May 21

FitchburgMay 15–May 22

West BendMay 15–May 22

Mount PleasantMay 4–May 11

NeenahMay 18–May 25

SuperiorMay 20–May 27

All 43 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant cucumbers in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from May 10 to May 17. Across Wisconsin the window opens between May 3 and May 21, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after the last frost; 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

Cucumbers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin