Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for West Bend, WI

The average first fall frost in West Bend, WI is October 12, and the average last spring frost is May 1, giving a growing season of about 161 days.

Plan your garden around West Bend, 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 1

Safe May 18 Typical May 1 Risky Apr 19

First Fall Frost

October 12

Safe Sep 28 Typical Oct 12 Risky Oct 26

Growing Season

161 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 5b

A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.

Data: NOAA station W BEND PUBLIC WORKS, WI US, 1.8 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How West Bend Compares

West Bend's typical last spring frost (May 1) comes later than in 52% of the 96 Wisconsin cities we track.
Its 161-day growing season is about the same as the Wisconsin median of 163 days.
Compared with Menomonee Falls (28 km away), West Bend's last spring frost comes 5 days earlier than Menomonee Falls's, and its first fall frost arrives 4 days later.
July is the warmest month (average high 82°F) and January the coldest (average low 11°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	May 8 – May 15	—	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 20 – Mar 6	—	May 8 – May 22	—	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 20 – Mar 6	—	May 15 – May 22	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Apr 3 – Apr 10	May 8 – May 15	May 8 – May 15	—	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 10 – Apr 17	May 8 – May 22	May 8 – May 15	—	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 3 – Apr 10	May 8 – May 22	May 8 – May 15	—	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 8 – May 22	—	—	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 3 – Apr 10	—	May 15 – May 22	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Apr 3 – Apr 10	—	May 15 – May 22	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	May 1 – May 15	—	—	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 1 – May 15	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 20 – Apr 3	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	Aug 17 – Aug 31	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 20 – Apr 3	—	Aug 17 – Aug 31	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	Aug 3 – Aug 17	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	Aug 31 – Sep 7	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 10 – Apr 24	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Mar 13 – Mar 27	—	Apr 10 – Apr 17	Aug 10 – Aug 17	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 13 – Mar 27	—	Apr 17 – Apr 24	Aug 3 – Aug 10	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 13 – Mar 27	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	Aug 3 – Aug 17	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Mar 13 – Mar 27	—	Apr 10 – Apr 24	—	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 3 – Apr 17	—	Jul 20 – Aug 3	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 3 – Apr 17	—	Aug 3 – Aug 17	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Mar 27 – Apr 10	—	Aug 31 – Sep 14	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 3 – Apr 17	—	Aug 3 – Aug 17	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 20 – Mar 6	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	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 14 – Sep 28	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	—	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 15 – May 29	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Apr 3 – Apr 17	—	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.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 20 – Mar 27	—	May 8 – May 15	—	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 10 – Apr 24	—	Aug 17 – Aug 31	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	Apr 17 – Apr 24	—	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 10 – Apr 24	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	May 1 – May 8	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Mar 6 – Mar 20	—	May 1 – May 8	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	May 8 – May 22	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Apr 3 – Apr 10	May 8 – May 22	May 8 – May 15	—	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 20 – Apr 3	—	May 8 – May 15	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Apr 3 – Apr 10	May 8 – May 22	May 8 – May 15	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	May 8 – May 22	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	May 8 – May 22	—	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 West Bend, WI?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the W BEND PUBLIC WORKS, WI US station, the last spring frost in West Bend typically falls around May 1. A cautious gardener might wait until May 18 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 19 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in West Bend, WI in fall?

The first fall frost in West Bend typically arrives around October 12. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 28; in milder years it can hold off until October 26.

How long is the growing season in West Bend, WI?

West Bend's average frost-free growing season is about 161 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 1) to the typical first fall frost (October 12).

What USDA hardiness zone is West Bend, WI in?

West Bend, WI is in USDA plant hardiness zone 5b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.