Frost Dates for Watertown, WI 53094
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost October 6 · 156 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 53094 has about 18,000 people, the largest of 2 ZIP codes in Watertown.
Moderate season: 156 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 16–May 20 (34 days). Fall frost risk spans September 24–October 17 (23 days).
Frost probability for 53094
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 20 | May 3 | April 16 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 24 | October 6 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at LAKE MILLS WWTP (15.1 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Frost dates by ZIP code in Watertown, WI
| ZIP | Last spring frost (50%) | First fall frost (50%) | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53094 | May 3 | October 6 | 5b |
| 53098 | May 2 | October 5 | 5a |
Which crops fit a 156-day season in Watertown
In Watertown (156 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 29 | May 17–May 24 | 114 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 114 available after May 17. | Jun 6 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 114 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 114 available after May 17. | Jun 11 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 191 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 15 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 198 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 198 available after Apr 12. | Aug 4 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 128 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 128 available after May 17. | Jul 10 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 142 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 219 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 219 available after Mar 8. | Jul 26 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 128 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 191 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 191 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 233 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Oct 27. | Sep 3 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 19 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 191 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 191 available after Apr 5. | Jul 11 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 205 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 205 available after Apr 5. | Aug 4 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 219 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Oct 13. | Sep 4 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 219 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 5 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 177 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 177 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 6 | 261 | overwinter: Plant Oct 6 to Oct 27; harvest the following summer. | Oct 27 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 212 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 128 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 128 available after May 10. | Jun 18 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 121 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 121 available after May 17. | May 24 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 170 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 170 available after Apr 26. | Jul 16 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 177 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 5 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 233 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Oct 27. | Sep 3 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 205 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 205 available after Apr 5. | Jul 5 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 121 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 121 available after May 17. | May 24 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 114 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 114 available after May 17. | Jun 16 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 135 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 121 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 121 available after May 24. | Jul 10 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 191 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 10 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 156 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 156 available after May 10. | Jul 21 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 156 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 156 available after May 10. | Jun 1 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 14 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 24 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 219 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 19 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 170 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 15 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 205 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 14 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 114 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 114 available after May 17. | Jun 1 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 170 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 170 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 219 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 5 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 170 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 170 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 156 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 156 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 170 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 170 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 170 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 170 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 177 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 10 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 142 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 10 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 177 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 177 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 142 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 20 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 114 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 114 available after May 17. | Jun 1 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 177 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 177 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 142 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 135 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 135 available after May 10. | Jul 5 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 121 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 121 available after May 17. | Jun 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 142 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 142 available after May 3. | Jun 30 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 121 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 121 available after May 10. | Jun 11 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 121 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 121 available after May 10. | Jun 6 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 128 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 142 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 10 |
Month by month in Watertown
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 24), Pumpkin (May 24). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 1), Celery (Jun 1), Melons (Jun 1), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 3), Tomato (Jun 6), Watermelon (Jun 6), +5 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 5), Pole Beans (Jul 5), Basil (Jul 10), Cosmos (Jul 10), Cucumber (Jul 10), Zinnias (Jul 10), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 4), Carrots (Aug 4), Beets (Aug 5), Dill (Aug 5), Swiss Chard (Aug 5), Calendula (Aug 10), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 3), Spinach (Sep 3), Radish (Sep 4). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 6). First frost around October 6. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 27). |
| 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 Watertown, WI (ZIP 53094)?
The median last spring frost date for Watertown, WI (ZIP code 53094) is around May 3. 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 16; one in ten it runs past May 20.
What is the first fall frost date in Watertown, WI?
The median first fall frost date for Watertown, WI is around October 6. 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 24 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Watertown, WI?
The frost-free growing season in Watertown is about 156 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 Watertown (156 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 Watertown, WI?
Watertown, 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 Watertown, WI?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Watertown. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Watertown?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 13.
When do I plant garlic in Watertown?
Oct 6 to Oct 27; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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