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Planting Calendar for South Milwaukee, WI | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for South Milwaukee, WI

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 29 (at SOUTH MILWAUKEE WWTP, WI climate station, elevation 649 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 3-18
Frost Apr 8-22
Moon Apr 8-22
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
Sep 22
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 24-29
Apr 29
BasilFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Sep 8
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 24-29
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 1-7
May 13
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 18-Mar 3
Moon Feb 18-24
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
N/AJul 28
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jun 10
BroccoliFrost Mar 3-18
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
Aug 18
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
Jul 14
CabbageFrost Mar 3-18
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
Jul 7
CantaloupesFrost Apr 8-22
Moon Apr 8-22
Frost Apr 29-May 13
Moon May 7-13
Frost May 6-13
Moon May 7-13
Jul 14
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-15
Moon Apr 1-7
Aug 11
CauliflowerFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
N/AAug 11
CeleryFrost Feb 4-18
Moon Feb 9-18
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Frost Apr 29
Aug 11
ChivesFrost Mar 3-18
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Aug 25
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 29-May 13
Moon May 7-13
May 20
CollardsFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Aug 11
CucumbersFrost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Aug 11
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 22-May 13
Moon Apr 22-23, May 7-13
Aug 25
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jul 14
EggplantsFrost Mar 3-18
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
N/AAug 11
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
May 13
FennelFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost May 6-13
Moon May 7-13
Frost Apr 29-May 13
Moon May 7-13
Aug 4
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 6-27
Moon May 7-23
Aug 11
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jul 21
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 18-Mar 3
Moon Feb 18-24
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 3-18
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
May 13
KohlrabiFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
May 13
LeeksFrost Feb 18-Mar 3
Moon Feb 18-24
Frost Apr 8-22
Moon Apr 8-22
N/AJul 7
LettuceFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
May 13
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 1-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Aug 11
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 1-15
Moon Apr 1-7
N/AJul 14
OreganoFrost Feb 18-Mar 18
Moon Feb 18-24
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
N/AAug 11
ParsleyFrost Feb 18-Mar 3
Moon Feb 18-24
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Frost Apr 1-May 6
Moon Apr 8-23
Aug 4
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 1-7
Jul 14
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
May 13
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-15
Moon Apr 1-7
Aug 11
PumpkinsFrost Apr 8-22
Moon Apr 8-22
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jul 7
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 1-7
Aug 25
RosemaryFrost Feb 4-18
Moon Feb 9-18
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
N/AAug 25
SageFrost Mar 3-18
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
N/AAug 4
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-15
Moon Apr 1-7
Jul 14
SpinachFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 8
May 13
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Aug 4
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 13-27
Moon May 24-27
Jul 7
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 8-29
Moon Apr 8-23
May 13
ThymeFrost Feb 18-Mar 3
Moon Feb 18-24
Frost May 6-13
Moon May 7-13
N/AJul 28
TomatillosFrost Mar 18-Apr 1
Moon Mar 18-25
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
N/AAug 4
TomatoesFrost Mar 3-18
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
N/AJul 21
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 1-8
Moon Apr 1-7
Sep 22
WatermelonsFrost Apr 8-22
Moon Apr 8-22
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Frost May 6-13
Moon May 7-13
Jul 21
Winter SquashFrost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jun 30
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Aug 18

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 20 (at SOUTH MILWAUKEE WWTP, WI climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 1-Oct 6
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 28-Aug 25
Moon Jul 28-Aug 3, Aug 20-25
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 11-Sep 1
Moon Aug 11-19
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 21-28
Moon Jul 21
Frost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 11-19
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 30-Jul 14
Moon Jul 5-14
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 21-28
Moon Jul 21
Frost Aug 11-18
Moon Aug 11-18
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 4-11
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 14-21
Moon Jul 14-21
Frost Jul 28-Aug 4
Moon Aug 4
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 28-Aug 25
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 21-Aug 4
Moon Jul 21
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 3-16
Moon Nov 16
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 4-18
Moon Aug 4-18
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 11-19
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 18-Sep 8
Moon Aug 18-19, Sep 2-8
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 11-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 18-Sep 8
Moon Aug 18-19, Sep 2-8
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 11-19
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 8-22
Moon Sep 18-22
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 1-22
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 11-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 18-Sep 1
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
The Old Farmer's Store