Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Baraboo, WI
Plan your garden around Baraboo, WI's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
May 5
Safe May 21
Typical May 5
Risky Apr 21
First Fall Frost
October 5
Safe Sep 22
Typical Oct 5
Risky Oct 19
Growing Season
152 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 5a
A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.
Data: NOAA station BARABOO, WI US, 2 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | May 12 – May 19 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | May 12 – May 26 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | May 19 – May 26 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 12 – May 19 | May 12 – May 19 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | May 12 – May 26 | May 12 – May 19 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 12 – May 26 | May 12 – May 19 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | May 12 – May 26 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | — | May 19 – May 26 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | — | May 19 – May 26 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | May 5 – May 19 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Aug 10 – Aug 24 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | — | Aug 10 – Aug 24 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Jul 27 – Aug 10 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Aug 24 – Aug 31 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | Aug 3 – Aug 10 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | Jul 27 – Aug 3 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Mar 17 – Mar 31 | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Jul 13 – Jul 27 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Jul 27 – Aug 10 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | Aug 24 – Sep 7 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | Jul 27 – Aug 10 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Sep 7 – Sep 21 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | May 19 – Jun 2 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Mar 24 – Mar 31 | — | May 12 – May 19 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | Aug 10 – Aug 24 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Apr 14 – Apr 28 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | May 5 – May 12 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | — | May 5 – May 12 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | May 12 – May 26 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 12 – May 26 | May 12 – May 19 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | — | May 12 – May 19 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 12 – May 26 | May 12 – May 19 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | May 12 – May 26 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | May 12 – May 26 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Baraboo, WI?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BARABOO, WI US station, the last spring frost in Baraboo typically falls around May 5. A cautious gardener might wait until May 21 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 21 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Baraboo, WI in fall?
The first fall frost in Baraboo typically arrives around October 5. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 22; in milder years it can hold off until October 19.
How long is the growing season in Baraboo, WI?
Baraboo's average frost-free growing season is about 152 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 5) to the typical first fall frost (October 5).
What USDA hardiness zone is Baraboo, WI in?
Baraboo, WI is in USDA plant hardiness zone 5a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.