La Crosse, Wisconsin planting calendar and frost dates
La Crosse is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 27 and the first fall frost around October 13, giving about 167 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5a
- Typical last frost
- April 27
- Typical first frost
- October 13
- Frost-free season
- 167 days
Frost dates in La Crosse
Last spring frost
- April 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 13Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 29Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 167 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 16 and returns around October 25.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for La Crosse Wfo, 2.8 miles WNW of the city center and 207 feet higher. 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 La Crosse
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, 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, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in La Crosse
La Crosse's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 23 in 54603 to April 27 in 54601. Every one of them is in zone 5a.
Planting dates for popular crops in La Crosse
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Jul 14 to Aug 18 |
| Cilantro | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Oct 13 to 27 |
| Onions | Jan 5 to Feb 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| 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 6 to 27 | Jul 21 to Aug 11 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 9 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 28 to Aug 25 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Jul 21 to Aug 4 |
| Spinach | Mar 16 to 23 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 4 to Sep 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 27 to May 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 3 to 10 | Jul 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 1 to Oct 27 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 1 to Oct 13 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Rochester, MN zone 4b, last frost Apr 30
- Eau Claire, WI zone 4b, last frost May 8
- Dubuque, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 19
- Madison, WI zone 5b, last frost May 1
- Waterloo, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Woodbury, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 24
Planting in WisconsinAbout zone 5aPrintable calendar for La Crosse
Questions
When is the last frost in La Crosse?
Around April 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for La Crosse Wfo. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.
What planting zone is La Crosse in?
USDA hardiness zone 5a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in La Crosse?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.
When is the first frost in La Crosse?
Around October 13 in a typical year, and before September 28 about 1 year in 10.