Eau Claire, Wisconsin planting calendar and frost dates
Eau Claire is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 8 and the first fall frost around October 4, giving about 149 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 4b
- Typical last frost
- May 8
- Typical first frost
- October 4
- Frost-free season
- 149 days
Frost dates in Eau Claire
Last spring frost
- April 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 4Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 17Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 149 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 27 and returns around October 15.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Eau Claire Rgnl Airport, 2.7 miles NE 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 Eau Claire
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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 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, 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: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Eau Claire
All 2 of Eau Claire's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Eau Claire Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 4b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Eau Claire
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 13 to 27 | May 1 to 15 | Jul 5 to Aug 9 |
| Cilantro | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Oct 4 to 18 |
| Onions | Jan 16 to Feb 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 8 to Apr 5 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 17 to May 8 | Jul 12 to Aug 2 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 8 to 22 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 20 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 24 | Jul 19 to Aug 16 |
| Peas | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Jul 12 to 26 |
| Spinach | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 15 | Jul 26 to Aug 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | May 31 to Jun 7 | Jun 28 to Jul 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 23 to Oct 18 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 23 to Oct 4 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 6 |
Nearby cities
- La Crosse, WI zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Woodbury, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 24
- Rochester, MN zone 4b, last frost Apr 30
- St. Paul, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Eagan, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Apple Valley, MN zone 5a, last frost May 2
Planting in WisconsinAbout zone 4bPrintable calendar for Eau Claire
Questions
When is the last frost in Eau Claire?
Around May 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Eau Claire Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 21.
What planting zone is Eau Claire in?
USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Eau Claire?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.
When is the first frost in Eau Claire?
Around October 4 in a typical year, and before September 20 about 1 year in 10.