Frost Dates for Madison, WI 53703
Last spring frost May 10 · First fall frost October 2 · 145 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 53703 has about 37,700 people, one of 14 ZIP codes in Madison.
Moderate season: 145 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 24–May 27 (33 days). Fall frost risk spans September 21–October 12 (21 days).
Frost probability for 53703
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 27 | May 10 | April 24 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 21 | October 2 | October 12 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at MADISON DANE CO AP (7.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 145-day season in Madison
In Madison (145 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 5 | May 24–May 31 | 103 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 103 available after May 24. | Jun 2 |
| Pepper | Mar 29 | May 24–May 31 | 103 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 103 available after May 24. | Jun 7 |
| Lettuce | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 11 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 187 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 187 available after Apr 19. | Jul 31 |
| Cucumber | Apr 19 | May 24–May 31 | 117 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 117 available after May 24. | Jul 6 |
| Beans | — | May 17–May 31 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 17. | Jul 13 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15–May 24 | 208 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 208 available after Mar 15. | Jul 22 |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 24. | Jul 11 |
| Onion | Feb 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 180 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 12. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 15–May 3 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 30 |
| Kale | Mar 1 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Broccoli | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 180 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 12. | Jul 7 |
| Cabbage | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 194 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 12. | Jul 31 |
| Radish | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 31 |
| Beets | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 1 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 26–May 3 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after Apr 26. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 2 | 250 | overwinter: Plant Oct 2 to Oct 23; harvest the following summer. | Oct 23 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 5–May 31 | 201 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 5; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 117 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 117 available after May 17. | Jun 14 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 26 | May 24–May 24 | 110 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 110 available after May 24. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 29 | May 3–May 17 | 159 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 159 available after May 3. | Jul 12 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 15 | Apr 26–Apr 26 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 1 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 30 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 15 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 194 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 12. | Jul 1 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 110 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 110 available after May 24. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 22 | May 24–May 31 | 103 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 103 available after May 24. | Jun 12 |
| Okra | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 18. | Jul 11 |
| Basil | Apr 5 | May 31–May 31 | 110 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 110 available after May 31. | Jul 6 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 12–May 3 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 6 |
| Parsley | Mar 1 | May 17–May 24 | 145 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 145 available after May 17. | Jul 17 |
| Celery | Mar 1 | May 17–May 31 | 145 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 145 available after May 17. | May 28 |
| Scallions | Mar 1 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 10 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 20 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 29–Apr 12 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 29 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 12 | May 3–May 10 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 11 |
| Collards | Mar 1 | Apr 12–Apr 26 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 10 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 103 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 103 available after May 24. | May 28 |
| Chives | Feb 15 | May 17–May 24 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 17. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 15–Jun 7 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 15 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 1 |
| Oregano | Mar 1 | May 17–May 24 | 159 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 159 available after May 17. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 15 | May 17–May 24 | 145 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 145 available after May 17. | — |
| Sage | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 159 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 159 available after May 17. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 1 | May 17–May 24 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 17. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 29 | Apr 26–May 10 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 6 |
| Cosmos | Apr 12 | May 10–May 24 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 10. | Jul 6 |
| Lavender | Feb 15 | May 10–May 24 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 10. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 29 | May 10–May 17 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 18. | Jul 16 |
| Melons | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 103 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 103 available after May 24. | May 28 |
| Mint | — | May 10–May 24 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 10. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 12 | May 10–May 17 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 18. | Jul 11 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 17–May 31 | 124 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 124 available after May 17. | Jul 1 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 110 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 110 available after May 24. | May 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 10–May 24 | 131 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 131 available after May 10. | Jun 26 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 110 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 110 available after May 17. | Jun 7 |
| Watermelon | Apr 26 | May 17–May 24 | 110 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 110 available after May 17. | Jun 2 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 26 | May 24–May 31 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 24. | Jul 11 |
| Zinnias | Apr 12 | May 10–May 24 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 10. | Jul 6 |
Month by month in Madison
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 15), Lavender (Feb 15), Onion (Feb 15), Rosemary (Feb 15). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 1), Collards (Mar 1), Kale (Mar 1), Oregano (Mar 1), Parsley (Mar 1), Scallions (Mar 1), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 15), Beets (Mar 15), Dill (Mar 15), Peas (Mar 15), Radish (Mar 15), Spinach (Mar 15), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 5), Tomato (Apr 5), Bok Choy (Apr 12), Corn (Apr 12), Cosmos (Apr 12), Nasturtiums (Apr 12), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 12), Turnip (Apr 12), Carrots (Apr 19), Potatoes (Apr 26). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 12), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 12), Cabbage (Apr 12), Collards (Apr 12), Kale (Apr 12), Lettuce (Apr 12), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 5). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 10), Beans (May 17), Pole Beans (May 17). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 3), Cauliflower (May 3), Cosmos (May 10), Lavender (May 10), Marigolds (May 10), Mint (May 10), +25 more. Last frost around May 10. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 28), Celery (May 28), Melons (May 28), Spaghetti Squash (May 30). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 2), Watermelon (Jun 2), Pepper (Jun 7), Tomatillos (Jun 7), Eggplant (Jun 12), Corn (Jun 14), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 1), Pole Beans (Jul 1), Basil (Jul 6), Cosmos (Jul 6), Cucumber (Jul 6), Zinnias (Jul 6), +12 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Beets (Aug 1), Dill (Aug 1), Swiss Chard (Aug 1), Calendula (Aug 6), Cilantro (Aug 6), Collards (Aug 10), +9 more. |
| September | First fall frost approaching (around October 2). Transplant fall brassicas. Sow spinach, arugula, and radishes. |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 2). First frost around October 2. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 23). |
| 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 Madison, WI (ZIP 53703)?
The median last spring frost date for Madison, WI (ZIP code 53703) is around May 10. 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 24; one in ten it runs past May 27.
What is the first fall frost date in Madison, WI?
The median first fall frost date for Madison, WI is around October 2. 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 21 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Madison, WI?
The frost-free growing season in Madison is about 145 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 Madison (145 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Madison, WI?
Madison, WI is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (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 Madison, WI?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 5 and plant out May 24 in Madison. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Madison?
Two: plant Apr 12 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 9.
When do I plant garlic in Madison?
Oct 2 to Oct 23; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Nearby and related
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