When to plant strawberries in Wisconsin

Strawberries
Plant out in Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 12

Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 22 and April 9. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Plant out, Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 12
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Set out crowns 2–4 weeks before the last frost. June-bearing plants fruit the year after planting. Pinch off first-year flowers.

Strawberries planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeMar 29–Apr 12
MadisonApr 3–Apr 17
Green BayApr 9–Apr 23
KenoshaMar 31–Apr 14
RacineMar 23–Apr 6
AppletonApr 6–Apr 20
Eau ClaireMar 27–Apr 10
WaukeshaApr 3–Apr 17
OshkoshMar 27–Apr 10
JanesvilleMar 29–Apr 12
West AllisMar 29–Apr 12
La CrosseMar 30–Apr 13
SheboyganMar 28–Apr 11
WauwatosaMar 29–Apr 12
Fond du LacMar 30–Apr 13
BrookfieldApr 2–Apr 16
Menomonee FallsApr 8–Apr 22
WausauApr 8–Apr 22
New BerlinApr 5–Apr 19
Sun PrairieApr 3–Apr 17
Oak CreekMar 25–Apr 8
GreenfieldApr 5–Apr 19
FranklinApr 5–Apr 19
BeloitApr 3–Apr 17
ManitowocApr 2–Apr 16
FitchburgApr 3–Apr 17
West BendApr 3–Apr 17
Mount PleasantMar 23–Apr 6
NeenahApr 6–Apr 20
SuperiorApr 8–Apr 22
All 43 cities
CityPlant outLast frost
MilwaukeeMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
MadisonApr 3 to Apr 17May 1
Green BayApr 9 to Apr 23May 7
KenoshaMar 31 to Apr 14Apr 28
RacineMar 23 to Apr 6Apr 20
AppletonApr 6 to Apr 20May 4
Eau ClaireMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24
WaukeshaApr 3 to Apr 17May 1
OshkoshMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24
JanesvilleMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
West AllisMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
La CrosseMar 30 to Apr 13Apr 27
SheboyganMar 28 to Apr 11Apr 25
WauwatosaMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
Fond du LacMar 30 to Apr 13Apr 27
BrookfieldApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 30
Menomonee FallsApr 8 to Apr 22May 6
WausauApr 8 to Apr 22May 6
New BerlinApr 5 to Apr 19May 3
Sun PrairieApr 3 to Apr 17May 1
Oak CreekMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
GreenfieldApr 5 to Apr 19May 3
FranklinApr 5 to Apr 19May 3
BeloitApr 3 to Apr 17May 1
ManitowocApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 30
FitchburgApr 3 to Apr 17May 1
West BendApr 3 to Apr 17May 1
Mount PleasantMar 23 to Apr 6Apr 20
NeenahApr 6 to Apr 20May 4
SuperiorApr 8 to Apr 22May 6
Stevens PointApr 6 to Apr 20May 4
MuskegoApr 5 to Apr 19May 3
De PereApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 30
CaledoniaMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24
MequonApr 8 to Apr 22May 6
MiddletonMar 31 to Apr 14Apr 28
WatertownMar 31 to Apr 14Apr 28
HowardApr 9 to Apr 23May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 22 to Apr 5Apr 19
GermantownApr 8 to Apr 22May 6
OnalaskaMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
OconomowocApr 2 to Apr 16Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant strawberries in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from March 29 to April 12. Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 22 and April 9, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Set out crowns 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Strawberries in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin