When to Plant Tomatoes in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Apr 26 – May 10 in Pleasant Prairie to May 14 – May 28 in Green Bay. In Milwaukee, it's May 3 – May 17. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Wisconsin by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | 5b | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Beloit | 5b | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Brookfield | 5b | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Caledonia | 6a | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 |
| De Pere | 5b | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Eau Claire | 4b | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Fitchburg | 5b | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Fond du Lac | 5b | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Franklin | 5b | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Germantown | 5b | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Green Bay | 5b | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Greenfield | 5b | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Howard | 5b | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | May 14 – May 28 |
| Janesville | 5b | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Kenosha | 5b | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | May 5 – May 19 |
| La Crosse | 5a | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Madison | 5a | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Manitowoc | 5b | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Menomonee Falls | 5b | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Mequon | 5b | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Middleton | 5a | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Milwaukee | 6a | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Mount Pleasant | 5b | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Muskego | 5b | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Neenah | 5b | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 11 – May 25 |
| New Berlin | 5b | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Oak Creek | 6a | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Oshkosh | 5b | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 |
| Pleasant Prairie | 5b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Racine | 6a | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Sheboygan | 6a | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Stevens Point | 4b | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Sun Prairie | 5a | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Superior | 5a | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Watertown | 5b | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Waukesha | 5b | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Wausau | 4b | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 13 – May 27 |
| Wauwatosa | 5b | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 |
| West Allis | 5b | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 |
| West Bend | 5b | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 8 – May 22 |
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 tomatoes.
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