Appleton, Wisconsin planting calendar and frost dates
Appleton is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 4 and the first fall frost around October 6, giving about 154 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- May 4
- Typical first frost
- October 6
- Frost-free season
- 154 days
Frost dates in Appleton
Last spring frost
- April 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 4Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 23Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 154 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 23 and returns around October 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Appleton, 4.5 miles WNW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Appleton
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Appleton
All 4 of Appleton's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Appleton, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Appleton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Jul 7 to Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Basil | Apr 6 to 20 | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Jan 12 to Feb 23 | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 9 to Apr 6 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 13 to May 4 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 16 to Mar 9 | Apr 6 to 20 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 4 to 25 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 1 to 8 | Jun 29 to Jul 13 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
Nearby cities
- Oshkosh, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 24
- Green Bay, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 30
- Milwaukee, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Waukesha, WI zone 5b, last frost May 1
- West Allis, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Madison, WI zone 5b, last frost May 1
Planting in WisconsinAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Appleton
Questions
When is the last frost in Appleton?
Around May 4 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Appleton. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 20.
What planting zone is Appleton in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Appleton?
Start seeds indoors March 30 to April 13 and set plants out May 25 to June 8.
When is the first frost in Appleton?
Around October 6 in a typical year, and before September 23 about 1 year in 10.