Frost Dates for Hudson, WI 54016
Last spring frost May 2 · First fall frost October 7 · 158 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 54016 has about 33,400 people.
Moderate season: 158 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 13–May 20 (37 days). Fall frost risk spans September 22–October 21 (29 days).
Frost probability for 54016
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 20 | May 2 | April 13 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 22 | October 7 | October 21 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at HASTINGS DAM 2 (28.1 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 158-day season in Hudson
In Hudson (158 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 28 | May 16–May 23 | 116 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 116 available after May 16. | Jun 7 |
| Pepper | Mar 21 | May 16–May 23 | 116 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 116 available after May 16. | Jun 12 |
| Lettuce | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 16 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | 200 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 200 available after Apr 11. | Aug 5 |
| Cucumber | Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | 130 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 130 available after May 16. | Jul 11 |
| Beans | — | May 9–May 23 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 18; both mature before Sep 30. | Jul 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 7–May 16 | 221 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 221 available after Mar 7. | Jul 27 |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 16 |
| Onion | Feb 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 193 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 4. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 7–Apr 25 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Oct 28. | Sep 4 |
| Kale | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Broccoli | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 193 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 193 available after Apr 4. | Jul 12 |
| Cabbage | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 207 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 4. | Aug 5 |
| Radish | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 14. | Sep 5 |
| Beets | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 6 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 18–Apr 25 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after Apr 18. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 7 | 263 | overwinter: Plant Oct 7 to Oct 28; harvest the following summer. | Oct 28 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 28–May 23 | 214 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 28; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | 130 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 130 available after May 9. | Jun 19 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 18 | May 16–May 16 | 123 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 123 available after May 16. | May 25 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 21 | Apr 25–May 9 | 172 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 172 available after Apr 25. | Jul 17 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 7 | Apr 18–Apr 18 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 6 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 235 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Oct 28. | Sep 4 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 207 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 207 available after Apr 4. | Jul 6 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 123 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 123 available after May 16. | May 25 |
| Eggplant | Mar 14 | May 16–May 23 | 116 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 116 available after May 16. | Jun 17 |
| Okra | Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | 137 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 16 |
| Basil | Mar 28 | May 23–May 23 | 123 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 123 available after May 23. | Jul 11 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 4–Apr 25 | 193 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 11 |
| Parsley | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 158 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 158 available after May 9. | Jul 22 |
| Celery | Feb 21 | May 9–May 23 | 158 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 158 available after May 9. | Jun 2 |
| Scallions | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 15 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 25 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 21–Apr 4 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 21 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 20 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 2 | 172 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 25 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 16 |
| Collards | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 207 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 28. | Aug 15 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 116 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 116 available after May 16. | Jun 2 |
| Chives | Feb 7 | May 9–May 16 | 172 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 172 available after May 9. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 221 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 6 |
| Oregano | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 172 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 172 available after May 9. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 7 | May 9–May 16 | 158 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 158 available after May 9. | — |
| Sage | Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | 172 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 172 available after May 9. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 172 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 172 available after May 9. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 21 | Apr 18–May 2 | 179 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 14. | Aug 11 |
| Cosmos | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 11 |
| Lavender | Feb 7 | May 2–May 16 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after May 2. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 21 | May 2–May 9 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 21; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 21 |
| Melons | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 116 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 116 available after May 16. | Jun 2 |
| Mint | — | May 2–May 16 | 179 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 179 available after May 2. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 4 | May 2–May 9 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 16 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 9–May 23 | 137 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 137 available after May 9. | Jul 6 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 123 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 123 available after May 16. | Jun 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 2–May 16 | 144 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 144 available after May 2. | Jul 1 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | 123 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 123 available after May 9. | Jun 12 |
| Watermelon | Apr 18 | May 9–May 16 | 123 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 123 available after May 9. | Jun 7 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 130 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 16 |
| Zinnias | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 144 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 23. | Jul 11 |
Month by month in Hudson
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 7), Lavender (Feb 7), Onion (Feb 7), Rosemary (Feb 7), Celery (Feb 21), Collards (Feb 21), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 7), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 7), Cabbage (Mar 7), Lettuce (Mar 7), Sage (Mar 7), Swiss Chard (Mar 7), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 7), Beets (Mar 7), Dill (Mar 7), Peas (Mar 7), Radish (Mar 7), Spinach (Mar 7), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 28). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 4), Corn (Apr 4), Cosmos (Apr 4), Nasturtiums (Apr 4), Okra (Apr 4), Zinnias (Apr 4), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 4), Turnip (Apr 4), Carrots (Apr 11), Potatoes (Apr 18). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 4), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 4), Cabbage (Apr 4), Collards (Apr 4), Kale (Apr 4), Lettuce (Apr 4), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 2), Beans (May 9), Pole Beans (May 9). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 2), Lavender (May 2), Marigolds (May 2), Mint (May 2), Nasturtiums (May 2), Zinnias (May 2), +23 more. Last frost around May 2. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 25), Pumpkin (May 25). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 2), Celery (Jun 2), Melons (Jun 2), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 4), Tomato (Jun 7), Watermelon (Jun 7), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 1), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 6), Pole Beans (Jul 6), Basil (Jul 11), Cosmos (Jul 11), Cucumber (Jul 11), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 5), Carrots (Aug 5), Beets (Aug 6), Dill (Aug 6), Swiss Chard (Aug 6), Calendula (Aug 11), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 4), Spinach (Sep 4), Radish (Sep 5). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 7). First frost around October 7. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 28). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| 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 Hudson, WI (ZIP 54016)?
The median last spring frost date for Hudson, WI (ZIP code 54016) is around May 2. 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 13; one in ten it runs past May 20.
What is the first fall frost date in Hudson, WI?
The median first fall frost date for Hudson, WI is around October 7. 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 22 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Hudson, WI?
The frost-free growing season in Hudson is about 158 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 Hudson (158 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Hudson, WI?
Hudson, 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 Hudson, WI?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 28 and plant out May 16 in Hudson. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Hudson?
Two: plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 14.
When do I plant garlic in Hudson?
Oct 7 to Oct 28; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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