When to plant tomatoes in Wisconsin

Plant out in Milwaukee

May 3–May 17

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.

Start indoors, Milwaukee: Mar 1–Mar 15
Plant out, Milwaukee: May 3–May 17
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 11
Last frost, Milwaukee: Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

MilwaukeeMay 3–May 17

MadisonMay 8–May 22

Green BayMay 14–May 28

KenoshaMay 5–May 19

RacineApr 27–May 11

AppletonMay 11–May 25

Eau ClaireMay 1–May 15

WaukeshaMay 8–May 22

OshkoshMay 1–May 15

JanesvilleMay 3–May 17

West AllisMay 3–May 17

La CrosseMay 4–May 18

SheboyganMay 2–May 16

WauwatosaMay 3–May 17

Fond du LacMay 4–May 18

BrookfieldMay 7–May 21

Menomonee FallsMay 13–May 27

WausauMay 13–May 27

New BerlinMay 10–May 24

Sun PrairieMay 8–May 22

Oak CreekApr 29–May 13

GreenfieldMay 10–May 24

FranklinMay 10–May 24

BeloitMay 8–May 22

ManitowocMay 7–May 21

FitchburgMay 8–May 22

West BendMay 8–May 22

Mount PleasantApr 27–May 11

NeenahMay 11–May 25

SuperiorMay 13–May 27

All 43 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Milwaukee	Mar 1 to Mar 15	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Madison	Mar 6 to Mar 20	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Green Bay	Mar 12 to Mar 26	May 14 to May 28	May 7
Kenosha	Mar 3 to Mar 17	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Racine	Feb 23 to Mar 9	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Appleton	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 11 to May 25	May 4
Eau Claire	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Waukesha	Mar 6 to Mar 20	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Oshkosh	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Janesville	Mar 1 to Mar 15	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
West Allis	Mar 1 to Mar 15	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
La Crosse	Mar 2 to Mar 16	May 4 to May 18	Apr 27
Sheboygan	Feb 28 to Mar 14	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Wauwatosa	Mar 1 to Mar 15	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Fond du Lac	Mar 2 to Mar 16	May 4 to May 18	Apr 27
Brookfield	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Menomonee Falls	Mar 11 to Mar 25	May 13 to May 27	May 6
Wausau	Mar 11 to Mar 25	May 13 to May 27	May 6
New Berlin	Mar 8 to Mar 22	May 10 to May 24	May 3
Sun Prairie	Mar 6 to Mar 20	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Oak Creek	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Greenfield	Mar 8 to Mar 22	May 10 to May 24	May 3
Franklin	Mar 8 to Mar 22	May 10 to May 24	May 3
Beloit	Mar 6 to Mar 20	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Manitowoc	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Fitchburg	Mar 6 to Mar 20	May 8 to May 22	May 1
West Bend	Mar 6 to Mar 20	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Mount Pleasant	Feb 23 to Mar 9	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Neenah	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 11 to May 25	May 4
Superior	Mar 11 to Mar 25	May 13 to May 27	May 6
Stevens Point	Mar 9 to Mar 23	May 11 to May 25	May 4
Muskego	Mar 8 to Mar 22	May 10 to May 24	May 3
De Pere	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Caledonia	Feb 27 to Mar 13	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Mequon	Mar 11 to Mar 25	May 13 to May 27	May 6
Middleton	Mar 3 to Mar 17	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Watertown	Mar 3 to Mar 17	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Howard	Mar 12 to Mar 26	May 14 to May 28	May 7
Pleasant Prairie	Feb 22 to Mar 8	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Germantown	Mar 11 to Mar 25	May 13 to May 27	May 6
Onalaska	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
South Milwaukee	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 22
Oconomowoc	Mar 5 to Mar 19	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, plant out from May 3 to May 17. Across Wisconsin the window opens between April 26 and May 14, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin