Racine, Wisconsin planting calendar and frost dates
Racine is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 20 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 184 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 20
- Typical first frost
- October 24
- Frost-free season
- 184 days
Frost dates in Racine
Last spring frost
- April 7Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 20Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 6Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 5Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 184 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 9 and returns around November 3.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Racine, 2.8 miles SE 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 Racine
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, ginger, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, 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, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Racine
Racine's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 20 in 53403 to April 24 in 53406. The hardiness zone is 5b in 53406, and 6a in 53402, 53403, 53404, 53405.
Planting dates for popular crops in Racine
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 10 to 24 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 13 to 27 | Jul 25 to Aug 29 |
| Cilantro | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Basil | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jun 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
| Onions | Dec 29 to Feb 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 8 to 22 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 8 to 22 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 20 to Apr 17 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 30 to Apr 20 | Aug 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 18 to 25 | — |
| Watermelons | May 1 to 15 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Zucchini | May 8 to 22 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 2 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 8 to Sep 5 |
| Peas | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Mar 9 to 16 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 8 to 15 | Jul 6 to 20 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 12 to Nov 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 12 to Oct 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 9 to 23 | Sep 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Kenosha, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 28
- West Allis, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Milwaukee, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Waukegan, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Waukesha, WI zone 5b, last frost May 1
- Palatine, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
Planting in WisconsinAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Racine
Questions
When is the last frost in Racine?
Around April 20 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Racine. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 6.
What planting zone is Racine in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Racine?
Start seeds indoors April 10 to 24 and set plants out June 5 to 19.
When is the first frost in Racine?
Around October 24 in a typical year, and before October 8 about 1 year in 10.