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Frost dates and planting calendar for Appleton, Wisconsin

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
5b[1]
Median last spring frost
May 4[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 6[3]
Growing season, median
154 days[4]

The USDA map puts the center of Appleton, Wisconsin in zone 5b[1]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after May 4, which is the median[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 21, half of years May 4, 1 in 10 years after May 20Last frostmedian May 4First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Oct 21, half of years Oct 6, 1 in 10 years before Sep 23First frostmedian Oct 6Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4TenderTender vegetables: plant around May 4around May 4Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 18from May 18
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Appleton weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after April 21, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 20[2]. In the fall, the first frost comes before September 23 in 1 of 10 years, and before October 6 in half of years[3]. These are odds from past years and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 21 after May 4 after May 20
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before September 23 before October 6 before October 21
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 23, median first fall date October 18[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 134 days in 9 of 10 years, 154 days in half of years and 176 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Appleton (USC00470265), 2.5 miles from the city center, 792 feet, 25 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so treat the dates here as a starting point[6]. We took the NOAA median last frost of May 4 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before it, which works out to April 6 to April 20[6]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around May 4[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the last frost, so the earliest start is May 18[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (May 4) is April 6 to April 20[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (May 4) is April 20, up to the median date itself[11]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, May 4[9]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (May 4), is May 18[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 10 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 30 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Apr 6 May 26
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 5
Onions (hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jul 25
Peas (hardy)[12] Apr 6 Jun 10
Radishes (hardy)[12] Apr 6 May 6
Spinach (hardy)[12] Apr 6 May 16
Turnips (hardy)[12] Apr 6 May 26
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 20 Jun 19
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 20 Jun 29
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 20 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 20 Jun 29
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 20 Aug 23
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 20 Jun 19
Snap beans (tender)[12] May 4 Jul 3
Sweet corn (tender)[12] May 4 Jul 3
Cucumbers (tender)[12] May 4 Jun 28
Summer squash (tender)[12] May 4 Jun 23
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 18 Aug 11
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 18 Jul 17 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 18 Jul 27 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 18 Jul 22 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 18 Aug 26
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 18 Aug 11
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 5b means the average coldest night of each winter was between -15°F and -10°F from 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is not about summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Appleton's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 5b[15].

Zone 5b: average annual extreme minimum temperature -15°F to -10°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -13.9°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 5b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 5b and what zone 5b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
54915[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
54913[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
54911[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
54914[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
54952[15] 5b -15 to -10°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Appleton, Wisconsin?
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Appleton in zone 5b[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated 5b[15].
When is the last frost in Appleton?
In half of years the last spring frost at the Appleton station comes after May 4[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 20[2].
When is the first frost in Appleton?
In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 6[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before September 23[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Appleton?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[10]. Using the May 4 median, the earliest start is May 18[10].
How long is the growing season in Appleton?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 154 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 134 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Appleton, Wisconsin in zone 5b. Zone 5b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -15°F to -10°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 13.9°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 21, in half of years after May 4, and in 1 of 10 years after May 20 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is May 4. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before September 23, in half of years before October 6, and in 9 of 10 years before October 21 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 6. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 134 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 154 days in half of years, and at least 176 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Appleton weather station (USC00470265), 2.5 miles from the center of Appleton at 792 feet, using 25 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 23 and the median first fall date is October 18. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Appleton, Wisconsin overlaps 5 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 5b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.