When to plant daffodil bulbs in Wisconsin

Fall planting in Milwaukee

Sep 20–Nov 1

Across Wisconsin the window opens between September 6 and September 28. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Milwaukee: Sep 20–Nov 1
Last frost, Milwaukee: Apr 26

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Daffodils root best when they go in a few weeks before the ground freezes. Deer and rodents leave them alone.

Daffodil bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

MilwaukeeSep 20–Nov 1

MadisonSep 11–Oct 23

Green BaySep 11–Oct 23

KenoshaSep 21–Nov 2

RacineSep 26–Nov 7

AppletonSep 8–Oct 20

Eau ClaireSep 16–Oct 28

WaukeshaSep 15–Oct 27

OshkoshSep 22–Nov 3

JanesvilleSep 17–Oct 29

West AllisSep 24–Nov 5

La CrosseSep 15–Oct 27

SheboyganSep 25–Nov 6

WauwatosaSep 20–Nov 1

Fond du LacSep 21–Nov 2

BrookfieldSep 16–Oct 28

Menomonee FallsSep 10–Oct 22

WausauSep 6–Oct 18

New BerlinSep 16–Oct 28

Sun PrairieSep 12–Oct 24

Oak CreekSep 28–Nov 9

GreenfieldSep 16–Oct 28

FranklinSep 16–Oct 28

BeloitSep 14–Oct 26

ManitowocSep 22–Nov 3

FitchburgSep 11–Oct 23

West BendSep 14–Oct 26

Mount PleasantSep 26–Nov 7

NeenahSep 8–Oct 20

SuperiorSep 11–Oct 23

All 43 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant daffodil bulbs in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, fall planting from September 20 to November 1. Across Wisconsin the window opens between September 6 and September 28, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.