Frost Dates for Eau Claire, WI 54701
Last spring frost May 12 · First fall frost September 28 · 139 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 54701 has about 43,000 people, one of 2 ZIP codes in Eau Claire.
Moderate season: 139 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 27–May 27 (30 days). Fall frost risk spans September 17–October 9 (22 days).
Frost probability for 54701
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 27 | May 12 | April 27 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 17 | September 28 | October 9 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at BLOOMER (38.7 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 139-day season in Eau Claire
In Eau Claire (139 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 7 | May 26–Jun 2 | 97 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 97 available after May 26. | May 29 |
| Pepper | Mar 31 | May 26–Jun 2 | 97 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 97 available after May 26. | Jun 3 |
| Lettuce | Mar 17 | Apr 14–Apr 21 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 21–Apr 28 | 181 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 181 available after Apr 21. | Jul 27 |
| Cucumber | Apr 21 | May 26–Jun 2 | 111 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 111 available after May 26. | Jul 2 |
| Beans | — | May 19–Jun 2 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 19. | Jul 9 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17–May 26 | 202 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 202 available after Mar 17. | Jul 18 |
| Zucchini | Apr 28 | May 26–Jun 2 | 111 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 111 available after May 26. | Jul 7 |
| Onion | Feb 17 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 174 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 174 available after Apr 14. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 17–May 5 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 17 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Kale | Mar 3 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Broccoli | Mar 17 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 174 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 174 available after Apr 14. | Jul 3 |
| Cabbage | Mar 17 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 188 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 14. | Jul 27 |
| Radish | — | Mar 17–Jun 9 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 17 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 27 |
| Beets | — | Mar 17–Jun 9 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 17 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28–May 5 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after Apr 28. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 28 | 244 | overwinter: Plant Sep 28 to Oct 19; harvest the following summer. | Oct 19 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 7–Jun 2 | 195 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 7; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 14 | May 19–May 26 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after May 19. | Jun 10 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 28 | May 26–May 26 | 104 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 104 available after May 26. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 31 | May 5–May 19 | 153 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 153 available after May 5. | Jul 8 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 17 | Apr 28–Apr 28 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 28 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 17–Jun 9 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 17 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 26 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 17 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 188 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 14. | Jun 27 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 28 | May 26–Jun 2 | 104 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 104 available after May 26. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 24 | May 26–Jun 2 | 97 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 97 available after May 26. | Jun 8 |
| Okra | Apr 14 | May 19–May 26 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 19. | Jul 7 |
| Basil | Apr 7 | Jun 2–Jun 2 | 104 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 104 available after Jun 2. | Jul 2 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 14–May 5 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Parsley | Mar 3 | May 19–May 26 | 139 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 139 available after May 19. | Jul 13 |
| Celery | Mar 3 | May 19–Jun 2 | 139 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 139 available after May 19. | May 24 |
| Scallions | Mar 3 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 16 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 31–Apr 14 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 31 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 11 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 14 | May 5–May 12 | 153 | two-plantings: Plant May 5 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 7 |
| Collards | Mar 3 | Apr 14–Apr 28 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 19. | Aug 6 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 28 | May 26–Jun 2 | 97 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 97 available after May 26. | — |
| Chives | Feb 17 | May 19–May 26 | 153 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 153 available after May 19. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 17–Jun 9 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 17 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Oct 5. | Jul 28 |
| Oregano | Mar 3 | May 19–May 26 | 153 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 153 available after May 19. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 17 | May 19–May 26 | 139 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 139 available after May 19. | — |
| Sage | Mar 17 | May 19–May 26 | 153 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 153 available after May 19. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 3 | May 19–May 26 | 153 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 153 available after May 19. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 31 | Apr 28–May 12 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 28 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 5. | Aug 2 |
| Cosmos | Apr 14 | May 12–May 26 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 12. | Jul 2 |
| Lavender | Feb 17 | May 12–May 26 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 12. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 31 | May 12–May 19 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 12 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 12 |
| Melons | Apr 28 | May 26–Jun 2 | 97 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 97 available after May 26. | — |
| Mint | — | May 12–May 26 | 160 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 160 available after May 12. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 14 | May 12–May 19 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 12 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 14. | Jul 7 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 19–Jun 2 | 118 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 118 available after May 19. | Jun 27 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 28 | May 26–Jun 2 | 104 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 104 available after May 26. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 12–May 26 | 125 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 125 available after May 12. | Jun 22 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 17 | May 19–May 26 | 104 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 104 available after May 19. | Jun 3 |
| Watermelon | Apr 28 | May 19–May 26 | 104 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 104 available after May 19. | May 29 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 28 | May 26–Jun 2 | 111 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 111 available after May 26. | Jul 7 |
| Zinnias | Apr 14 | May 12–May 26 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 12. | Jul 2 |
Month by month in Eau Claire
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 17), Lavender (Feb 17), Onion (Feb 17), Rosemary (Feb 17). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 3), Collards (Mar 3), Kale (Mar 3), Oregano (Mar 3), Parsley (Mar 3), Scallions (Mar 3), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 17), Beets (Mar 17), Dill (Mar 17), Peas (Mar 17), Radish (Mar 17), Spinach (Mar 17), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 7), Tomato (Apr 7), Bok Choy (Apr 14), Corn (Apr 14), Cosmos (Apr 14), Nasturtiums (Apr 14), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 14), Turnip (Apr 14), Carrots (Apr 21), Potatoes (Apr 28). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 14), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 14), Cabbage (Apr 14), Collards (Apr 14), Kale (Apr 14), Lettuce (Apr 14), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 7). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 12), Beans (May 19), Pole Beans (May 19). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 5), Cauliflower (May 5), Cosmos (May 12), Lavender (May 12), Marigolds (May 12), Mint (May 12), +24 more. Last frost around May 12. Last sowing dates: Celery (May 24), Tomato (May 29), Watermelon (May 29). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 2). Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 3), Tomatillos (Jun 3), Eggplant (Jun 8), Corn (Jun 10), Sunflowers (Jun 22), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 27), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 2), Cosmos (Jul 2), Cucumber (Jul 2), Zinnias (Jul 2), Broccoli (Jul 3), Nasturtiums (Jul 7), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 2), Cilantro (Aug 2), Collards (Aug 6), Scallions (Aug 6), Bok Choy (Aug 7), Lettuce (Aug 7), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 28). First frost around September 28. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 19). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Eau Claire, WI (ZIP 54701)?
The median last spring frost date for Eau Claire, WI (ZIP code 54701) is around May 12. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 27; one in ten it runs past May 27.
What is the first fall frost date in Eau Claire, WI?
The median first fall frost date for Eau Claire, WI is around September 28. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 17 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Eau Claire, WI?
The frost-free growing season in Eau Claire is about 139 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Eau Claire (139 frost-free days, a moderate season), 38 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 17 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Eau Claire, WI?
Eau Claire, WI is in USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Eau Claire, WI?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 7 and plant out May 26 in Eau Claire. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Eau Claire?
Two: plant Apr 14 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 5.
When do I plant garlic in Eau Claire?
Sep 28 to Oct 19; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Holmen (ZIP 54636) has 160 frost-free days, 21 more than Eau Claire (ZIP 54701). See Holmen ZIP 54636 frost dates
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