Kenosha, Wisconsin planting calendar and frost dates
Kenosha is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 174 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 28
- Typical first frost
- October 19
- Frost-free season
- 174 days
Frost dates in Kenosha
Last spring frost
- April 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 31Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 174 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 15 and returns around October 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kenosha Rgnl Airport, 2.1 miles SSW 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 Kenosha
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, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, 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, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Kenosha
Kenosha's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 19 in 53140 to April 28 in 53144. The hardiness zone is 5b in 53142, 53144, and 6a in 53140, 53143.
Planting dates for popular crops in Kenosha
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Cilantro | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Basil | Apr 3 to 17 | May 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
| Onions | Jan 6 to Feb 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 6 to Apr 3 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 7 to 28 | Jul 27 to Aug 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 24 to May 8 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 10 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Spinach | Mar 17 to 24 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 28 to May 19 | — |
| Zinnias | May 27 to Jun 3 | Jun 24 to Jul 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 7 to Nov 2 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 7 to Oct 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Sep 7 to 21 |
Nearby cities
- Racine, WI zone 6a, last frost Apr 20
- Waukegan, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- West Allis, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Milwaukee, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Palatine, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Arlington Heights, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
Planting in WisconsinAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Kenosha
Questions
When is the last frost in Kenosha?
Around April 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Kenosha Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 13.
What planting zone is Kenosha in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Kenosha?
Start seeds indoors March 27 to April 10 and set plants out May 22 to June 5.
When is the first frost in Kenosha?
Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 1 about 1 year in 10.