When to Plant Peppers in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from May 3 – May 17 in Pleasant Prairie to May 21 – Jun 4 in Green Bay. In Milwaukee, it's May 10 – May 24. The average last spring frost differs by about 3 weeks across the state (Apr 19 in Pleasant Prairie, May 7 in Green Bay), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Wisconsin by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | 5b | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | May 18 – Jun 1 |
| Beloit | 5b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Brookfield | 5b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Caledonia | 6a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| De Pere | 5b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Eau Claire | 4b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Fitchburg | 5b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Fond du Lac | 5b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Franklin | 5b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Germantown | 5b | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Green Bay | 5b | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | May 21 – Jun 4 |
| Greenfield | 5b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Howard | 5b | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | May 21 – Jun 4 |
| Janesville | 5b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Kenosha | 5b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| La Crosse | 5a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Madison | 5a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Manitowoc | 5b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Menomonee Falls | 5b | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Mequon | 5b | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Middleton | 5a | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Milwaukee | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Mount Pleasant | 5b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Muskego | 5b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Neenah | 5b | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | May 18 – Jun 1 |
| New Berlin | 5b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 17 – May 31 |
| Oak Creek | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Oshkosh | 5b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Pleasant Prairie | 5b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Racine | 6a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Sheboygan | 6a | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | May 9 – May 23 |
| Stevens Point | 4b | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | May 18 – Jun 1 |
| Sun Prairie | 5a | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Superior | 5a | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Watertown | 5b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Waukesha | 5b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
| Wausau | 4b | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | May 20 – Jun 3 |
| Wauwatosa | 5b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| West Allis | 5b | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| West Bend | 5b | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 15 – May 29 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Wisconsin, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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