When to plant green beans in Wisconsin

Green beans
Sow outdoors in Milwaukee
May 3–May 24

Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 26 and May 14. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
May 3–May 24
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 5
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors 1–4 weeks after the last frost. Bush beans ripen all at once, so sow a new row every two to three weeks.

Green beans planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeMay 3–May 24
MadisonMay 8–May 29
Green BayMay 14–Jun 4
KenoshaMay 5–May 26
RacineApr 27–May 18
AppletonMay 11–Jun 1
Eau ClaireMay 1–May 22
WaukeshaMay 8–May 29
OshkoshMay 1–May 22
JanesvilleMay 3–May 24
West AllisMay 3–May 24
La CrosseMay 4–May 25
SheboyganMay 2–May 23
WauwatosaMay 3–May 24
Fond du LacMay 4–May 25
BrookfieldMay 7–May 28
Menomonee FallsMay 13–Jun 3
WausauMay 13–Jun 3
New BerlinMay 10–May 31
Sun PrairieMay 8–May 29
Oak CreekApr 29–May 20
GreenfieldMay 10–May 31
FranklinMay 10–May 31
BeloitMay 8–May 29
ManitowocMay 7–May 28
FitchburgMay 8–May 29
West BendMay 8–May 29
Mount PleasantApr 27–May 18
NeenahMay 11–Jun 1
SuperiorMay 13–Jun 3
All 43 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
MilwaukeeMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
MadisonMay 8 to May 29May 1
Green BayMay 14 to Jun 4May 7
KenoshaMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
RacineApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
AppletonMay 11 to Jun 1May 4
Eau ClaireMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
WaukeshaMay 8 to May 29May 1
OshkoshMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
JanesvilleMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
West AllisMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
La CrosseMay 4 to May 25Apr 27
SheboyganMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
WauwatosaMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
Fond du LacMay 4 to May 25Apr 27
BrookfieldMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
Menomonee FallsMay 13 to Jun 3May 6
WausauMay 13 to Jun 3May 6
New BerlinMay 10 to May 31May 3
Sun PrairieMay 8 to May 29May 1
Oak CreekApr 29 to May 20Apr 22
GreenfieldMay 10 to May 31May 3
FranklinMay 10 to May 31May 3
BeloitMay 8 to May 29May 1
ManitowocMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
FitchburgMay 8 to May 29May 1
West BendMay 8 to May 29May 1
Mount PleasantApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
NeenahMay 11 to Jun 1May 4
SuperiorMay 13 to Jun 3May 6
Stevens PointMay 11 to Jun 1May 4
MuskegoMay 10 to May 31May 3
De PereMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
CaledoniaMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
MequonMay 13 to Jun 3May 6
MiddletonMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
WatertownMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
HowardMay 14 to Jun 4May 7
Pleasant PrairieApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
GermantownMay 13 to Jun 3May 6
OnalaskaApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
South MilwaukeeApr 29 to May 20Apr 22
OconomowocMay 7 to May 28Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant green beans in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors from May 3 to May 24. Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 26 and May 14, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 1–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Green beans in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin