When to plant sunflowers in Wisconsin

Sunflowers
Sow outdoors in Milwaukee
Apr 26–May 17

Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 19 and May 7. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
Apr 26–May 17
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 26
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Sow every two weeks until midsummer for flowers through fall.

Sunflowers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeApr 26–May 17
MadisonMay 1–May 22
Green BayMay 7–May 28
KenoshaApr 28–May 19
RacineApr 20–May 11
AppletonMay 4–May 25
Eau ClaireApr 24–May 15
WaukeshaMay 1–May 22
OshkoshApr 24–May 15
JanesvilleApr 26–May 17
West AllisApr 26–May 17
La CrosseApr 27–May 18
SheboyganApr 25–May 16
WauwatosaApr 26–May 17
Fond du LacApr 27–May 18
BrookfieldApr 30–May 21
Menomonee FallsMay 6–May 27
WausauMay 6–May 27
New BerlinMay 3–May 24
Sun PrairieMay 1–May 22
Oak CreekApr 22–May 13
GreenfieldMay 3–May 24
FranklinMay 3–May 24
BeloitMay 1–May 22
ManitowocApr 30–May 21
FitchburgMay 1–May 22
West BendMay 1–May 22
Mount PleasantApr 20–May 11
NeenahMay 4–May 25
SuperiorMay 6–May 27
All 43 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
MilwaukeeApr 26 to May 17Apr 26
MadisonMay 1 to May 22May 1
Green BayMay 7 to May 28May 7
KenoshaApr 28 to May 19Apr 28
RacineApr 20 to May 11Apr 20
AppletonMay 4 to May 25May 4
Eau ClaireApr 24 to May 15Apr 24
WaukeshaMay 1 to May 22May 1
OshkoshApr 24 to May 15Apr 24
JanesvilleApr 26 to May 17Apr 26
West AllisApr 26 to May 17Apr 26
La CrosseApr 27 to May 18Apr 27
SheboyganApr 25 to May 16Apr 25
WauwatosaApr 26 to May 17Apr 26
Fond du LacApr 27 to May 18Apr 27
BrookfieldApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
Menomonee FallsMay 6 to May 27May 6
WausauMay 6 to May 27May 6
New BerlinMay 3 to May 24May 3
Sun PrairieMay 1 to May 22May 1
Oak CreekApr 22 to May 13Apr 22
GreenfieldMay 3 to May 24May 3
FranklinMay 3 to May 24May 3
BeloitMay 1 to May 22May 1
ManitowocApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
FitchburgMay 1 to May 22May 1
West BendMay 1 to May 22May 1
Mount PleasantApr 20 to May 11Apr 20
NeenahMay 4 to May 25May 4
SuperiorMay 6 to May 27May 6
Stevens PointMay 4 to May 25May 4
MuskegoMay 3 to May 24May 3
De PereApr 30 to May 21Apr 30
CaledoniaApr 24 to May 15Apr 24
MequonMay 6 to May 27May 6
MiddletonApr 28 to May 19Apr 28
WatertownApr 28 to May 19Apr 28
HowardMay 7 to May 28May 7
Pleasant PrairieApr 19 to May 10Apr 19
GermantownMay 6 to May 27May 6
OnalaskaApr 23 to May 14Apr 23
South MilwaukeeApr 22 to May 13Apr 22
OconomowocApr 30 to May 21Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant sunflowers in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors from April 26 to May 17. Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 19 and May 7, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Sunflowers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin