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2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Planting Calendar for Madison, WI

For the Almanac's fall and spring planting calendars, we've calculated the best time to start seeds indoors, when to transplant young plants outside, and when to direct seed into the ground.

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 7 (at UW ARBORETUM - MADISON, WI climate station, elevation 869 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds Outdoors
ArugulaN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23-May 5
BasilFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 7-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
BeetsN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 14
Moon May 6-14
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
BroccoliFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 19-30
N/A
CabbageFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
N/A
CantaloupesFrost Apr 9-16
Frost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
N/A
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 6-16
CauliflowerFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 19-30
N/A
CeleryFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
ChivesN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-16
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
CollardsN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
CornN/AN/AFrost May 21-Jun 11
Moon May 21-Jun 3
CucumbersFrost Apr 9-16
Frost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
N/A
DillN/AN/AFrost May 7-Jun 11
Moon May 19-Jun 3
EggplantsFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
N/A
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)Frost Feb 11-25
Moon Feb 20-25
Frost Mar 19-Apr 9
Moon Mar 21-Apr 5
N/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 14-Jun 4
Moon May 19-Jun 3
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 19-30
N/A
KohlrabiFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 19-23
N/A
LettuceFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Apr 23-May 21
Moon Apr 23-May 5, May 19-21
N/A
OkraN/AN/AFrost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
OnionsN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 9-18
OreganoFrost Feb 25-Mar 26
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7, Mar 21-26
Frost May 7-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
ParsleyN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 19-23
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 16-May 7
Moon Apr 16-18, May 6- 7
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 26-Apr 16
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-18
PumpkinsFrost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 19-30
Frost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
N/A
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 11-Apr 2
Moon Mar 11-20
RosemaryFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost May 14-Jun 4
Moon May 19-Jun 3
N/A
SageFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 19-21
N/A
SpinachN/AN/AFrost Mar 26-Apr 16
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 28-Jun 11
Moon Jun 4-11
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 26-Apr 9
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
Frost Apr 16-23
Moon Apr 19-23
N/A
ThymeFrost Feb 25-Mar 26
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7, Mar 21-26
Frost May 7-28
Moon May 19-28
N/A
TomatillosFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 28-Jun 11
Moon May 28-Jun 3
N/A
TomatoesFrost Mar 11-26
Moon Mar 21-26
Frost May 14-Jun 4
Moon May 19-Jun 3
N/A
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 9-18
WatermelonsFrost Apr 9-16
Frost May 21-Jun 4
Moon May 21-Jun 3
N/A
Winter SquashN/AN/AFrost May 21-Jun 18
Moon May 21-Jun 3, Jun 17-18
Zucchini and Summer SquashN/AN/AFrost May 21-Jun 18
Moon May 21-Jun 3, Jun 17-18

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 3 (at UW ARBORETUM - MADISON, WI climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Start Seeds Indoors by...Plant Seedlings Outdoors by...Start Seeds Outdoors by...
ArugulaN/AN/AFrost Aug 29
BeetsN/AN/AFrost Aug 19
Bell PeppersFrost Apr 20Frost Jun 15N/A
Bok ChoyN/AN/AFrost Aug 24
BroccoliFrost Jun 22Frost Jul 20N/A
CabbageFrost Jun 12Frost Jul 10N/A
CantaloupesN/AN/AFrost Jun 5
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Aug 14
CauliflowerFrost Jun 22Frost Jul 20N/A
CeleryFrost Apr 11Frost Jun 20N/A
CollardsN/AN/AFrost Aug 4
CornN/AN/AFrost Jun 25
CucumbersN/AN/AFrost Jun 30
EggplantsFrost Apr 20Frost Jun 15N/A
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Aug 4
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Jun 30
Jalapeño PeppersFrost May 10Frost Jul 5N/A
KaleFrost Jul 12Frost Aug 9N/A
KohlrabiN/AN/AFrost Aug 14
LettuceN/AN/AFrost Aug 24
OkraN/AN/AFrost Jun 25
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Jun 30
PeasN/AN/AFrost Jul 30
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Jun 15
PumpkinsN/AN/AFrost June 4
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Aug 29
SpinachN/AN/AFrost Sep 8
Sweet PotatoesFrost May 1Frost June 11N/A
Swiss ChardN/AN/AFrost Aug 24
TomatillosN/AN/AFrost Jun 25
TomatoesFrost Apr 25Frost Jun 20N/A
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Aug 24
WatermelonsN/AN/AFrost Jun 5
Winter SquashN/AN/AFrost Jun 20
Zucchini and Summer SquashN/AN/AFrost Jul 5
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