When to plant peppers in Wisconsin

Peppers
Plant out in Milwaukee
May 10–May 24

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
Feb 15–Mar 1
Plant out, Milwaukee
May 10–May 24
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 6
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeMay 10–May 24
MadisonMay 15–May 29
Green BayMay 21–Jun 4
KenoshaMay 12–May 26
RacineMay 4–May 18
AppletonMay 18–Jun 1
Eau ClaireMay 8–May 22
WaukeshaMay 15–May 29
OshkoshMay 8–May 22
JanesvilleMay 10–May 24
West AllisMay 10–May 24
La CrosseMay 11–May 25
SheboyganMay 9–May 23
WauwatosaMay 10–May 24
Fond du LacMay 11–May 25
BrookfieldMay 14–May 28
Menomonee FallsMay 20–Jun 3
WausauMay 20–Jun 3
New BerlinMay 17–May 31
Sun PrairieMay 15–May 29
Oak CreekMay 6–May 20
GreenfieldMay 17–May 31
FranklinMay 17–May 31
BeloitMay 15–May 29
ManitowocMay 14–May 28
FitchburgMay 15–May 29
West BendMay 15–May 29
Mount PleasantMay 4–May 18
NeenahMay 18–Jun 1
SuperiorMay 20–Jun 3
All 43 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
MilwaukeeFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
MadisonFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
Green BayFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7
KenoshaFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
RacineFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
AppletonFeb 23 to Mar 9May 18 to Jun 1May 4
Eau ClaireFeb 13 to Feb 27May 8 to May 22Apr 24
WaukeshaFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
OshkoshFeb 13 to Feb 27May 8 to May 22Apr 24
JanesvilleFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
West AllisFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
La CrosseFeb 16 to Mar 2May 11 to May 25Apr 27
SheboyganFeb 14 to Feb 28May 9 to May 23Apr 25
WauwatosaFeb 15 to Mar 1May 10 to May 24Apr 26
Fond du LacFeb 16 to Mar 2May 11 to May 25Apr 27
BrookfieldFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
Menomonee FallsFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
WausauFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
New BerlinFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
Sun PrairieFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
Oak CreekFeb 11 to Feb 25May 6 to May 20Apr 22
GreenfieldFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
FranklinFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
BeloitFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
ManitowocFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
FitchburgFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
West BendFeb 20 to Mar 6May 15 to May 29May 1
Mount PleasantFeb 9 to Feb 23May 4 to May 18Apr 20
NeenahFeb 23 to Mar 9May 18 to Jun 1May 4
SuperiorFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
Stevens PointFeb 23 to Mar 9May 18 to Jun 1May 4
MuskegoFeb 22 to Mar 8May 17 to May 31May 3
De PereFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30
CaledoniaFeb 13 to Feb 27May 8 to May 22Apr 24
MequonFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
MiddletonFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
WatertownFeb 17 to Mar 3May 12 to May 26Apr 28
HowardFeb 26 to Mar 12May 21 to Jun 4May 7
Pleasant PrairieFeb 8 to Feb 22May 3 to May 17Apr 19
GermantownFeb 25 to Mar 11May 20 to Jun 3May 6
OnalaskaFeb 12 to Feb 26May 7 to May 21Apr 23
South MilwaukeeFeb 11 to Feb 25May 6 to May 20Apr 22
OconomowocFeb 19 to Mar 5May 14 to May 28Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from May 10 to May 24. 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 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin