When to plant turnips in Wisconsin

Turnips
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
Mar 29–Apr 12
Fall planting, Milwaukee
Aug 9–Aug 23
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Fall turnips are sweeter. Pull them at 2–3 inches across.

Turnips 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
CitySow outdoorsFall plantingLast frost
MilwaukeeMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 26
MadisonApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 31 to Aug 14May 1
Green BayApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 31 to Aug 14May 7
KenoshaMar 31 to Apr 14Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 28
RacineMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 20
AppletonApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 28 to Aug 11May 4
Eau ClaireMar 27 to Apr 10Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 24
WaukeshaApr 3 to Apr 17Aug 4 to Aug 18May 1
OshkoshMar 27 to Apr 10Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 24
JanesvilleMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 26
West AllisMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
La CrosseMar 30 to Apr 13Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 27
SheboyganMar 28 to Apr 11Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 25
WauwatosaMar 29 to Apr 12Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 26
Fond du LacMar 30 to Apr 13Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 27
BrookfieldApr 2 to Apr 16Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 30
Menomonee FallsApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 30 to Aug 13May 6
WausauApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 26 to Aug 9May 6
New BerlinApr 5 to Apr 19Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
Sun PrairieApr 3 to Apr 17Aug 1 to Aug 15May 1
Oak CreekMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 22
GreenfieldApr 5 to Apr 19Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
FranklinApr 5 to Apr 19Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
BeloitApr 3 to Apr 17Aug 3 to Aug 17May 1
ManitowocApr 2 to Apr 16Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 30
FitchburgApr 3 to Apr 17Jul 31 to Aug 14May 1
West BendApr 3 to Apr 17Aug 3 to Aug 17May 1
Mount PleasantMar 23 to Apr 6Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 20
NeenahApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 28 to Aug 11May 4
SuperiorApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 31 to Aug 14May 6
Stevens PointApr 6 to Apr 20Jul 29 to Aug 12May 4
MuskegoApr 5 to Apr 19Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
De PereApr 2 to Apr 16Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 30
CaledoniaMar 27 to Apr 10Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 24
MequonApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 30 to Aug 13May 6
MiddletonMar 31 to Apr 14Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 28
WatertownMar 31 to Apr 14Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 28
HowardApr 9 to Apr 23Jul 31 to Aug 14May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 19
GermantownApr 8 to Apr 22Jul 30 to Aug 13May 6
OnalaskaMar 26 to Apr 9Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMar 25 to Apr 8Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 22
OconomowocApr 2 to Apr 16Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant turnips in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors 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?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Turnips in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin