When to plant pumpkins in Wisconsin

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
May 10–May 24
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 6
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
MilwaukeeMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
MadisonMay 15 to May 29May 1
Green BayMay 21 to Jun 4May 7
KenoshaMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
RacineMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
AppletonMay 18 to Jun 1May 4
Eau ClaireMay 8 to May 22Apr 24
WaukeshaMay 15 to May 29May 1
OshkoshMay 8 to May 22Apr 24
JanesvilleMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
West AllisMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
La CrosseMay 11 to May 25Apr 27
SheboyganMay 9 to May 23Apr 25
WauwatosaMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
Fond du LacMay 11 to May 25Apr 27
BrookfieldMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
Menomonee FallsMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
WausauMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
New BerlinMay 17 to May 31May 3
Sun PrairieMay 15 to May 29May 1
Oak CreekMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
GreenfieldMay 17 to May 31May 3
FranklinMay 17 to May 31May 3
BeloitMay 15 to May 29May 1
ManitowocMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
FitchburgMay 15 to May 29May 1
West BendMay 15 to May 29May 1
Mount PleasantMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
NeenahMay 18 to Jun 1May 4
SuperiorMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
Stevens PointMay 18 to Jun 1May 4
MuskegoMay 17 to May 31May 3
De PereMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
CaledoniaMay 8 to May 22Apr 24
MequonMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
MiddletonMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
WatertownMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
HowardMay 21 to Jun 4May 7
Pleasant PrairieMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
GermantownMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
OnalaskaMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
OconomowocMay 14 to May 28Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors 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?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin