West Allis, Wisconsin planting calendar and frost dates
West Allis is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 192 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 192 days
Frost dates in West Allis
Last spring frost
- April 6Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 192 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 6 and returns around November 8.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, 5.8 miles S of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. West Allis shares this station with Milwaukee, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in West Allis
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, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
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, 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, 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, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, 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, 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in West Allis
All 3 of West Allis's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53214 | 5b | Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, 5.8 mi S | Apr 19 | Oct 29 |
| 53219 | 5b | Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, 5.8 mi S | Apr 19 | Oct 29 |
| 53227 | 5b | Milwaukee Mitchell Airport, 5.8 mi S | Apr 19 | Oct 29 |
Milwaukee Mitchell Airport also supplies the frost dates for Milwaukee, so their planting calendars match West Allis's.
Planting dates for popular crops in West Allis
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Apr 6 to 20 | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| 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 | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 27 to May 18 | — |
| Zinnias | May 26 to Jun 2 | Jun 23 to Jul 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Milwaukee, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Waukesha, WI zone 5b, last frost May 1
- Racine, WI zone 6a, last frost Apr 20
- Kenosha, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 28
- Waukegan, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Janesville, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 26
Planting in WisconsinAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for West Allis
Questions
When is the last frost in West Allis?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Milwaukee Mitchell Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 2.
What planting zone is West Allis 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 West Allis?
Start seeds indoors March 30 to April 13 and set plants out May 25 to June 8.
When is the first frost in West Allis?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.