In Madison, the average last spring frost is May 1 and the average first fall frost is Oct 10, a growing season of about 162 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 20 and move them outside from May 15. Plant garlic Oct 17 to Oct 24, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Madison at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 1 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 10 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 162 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- UW Arboretum - Madison, WI; Charmany Farm, WI; and Madison Dane Rgnl AP, WI, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Madison this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Madison in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 20.
What to plant in Madison this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 20
What to plant in Madison this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 20
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 20
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 20
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 20
- Start kale indoors: Mar 27
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 27
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 27
Coming up in early April: start basil indoors (Apr 3), direct sow spinach (Apr 10), direct sow peas (Apr 10) and direct sow radishes (Apr 10).
What to plant in Madison this month (April)
- Start basil indoors: Apr 3
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 10
- Direct sow peas: Apr 10
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 10
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 17
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 17
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 17
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 17
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 17
- Direct sow beets: Apr 24
- Transplant kale: Apr 24
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 24
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 24
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 24
Coming up in early May: transplant onions (May 1), transplant cucumbers (May 8), transplant zucchini (May 8), transplant winter squash (May 8) and direct sow beans (May 8).
What to plant in Madison this month (May)
- Transplant onions: May 1
- Transplant cucumbers: May 8
- Transplant zucchini: May 8
- Transplant winter squash: May 8
- Direct sow beans: May 8
- Transplant tomatoes: May 15
- Transplant peppers: May 15
- Transplant eggplant: May 15
- Transplant basil: May 15
What to plant in Madison this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Madison in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 1.
What to plant in Madison this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Madison in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 1.
What to plant in Madison this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 1
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 1
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 15
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 22
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 5).
What to plant in Madison this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 5
What to plant in Madison this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 17 to Oct 24
What to plant in Madison this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Madison in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 20.
What to plant in Madison this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Madison in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 20.
Madison planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 20 | Transplant May 15 | From Aug 1 |
| Peppers | Mar 20 | Transplant May 15 | From Jul 26 |
| Eggplant | Mar 20 | Transplant May 15 | From Jul 29 |
| Basil | Apr 3 | Transplant May 15 | From Jun 26 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 20 | Transplant May 1 | From Aug 9 |
| Lettuce | Mar 20 | Transplant Apr 17Fall: direct sow Aug 15 | From May 27Fall: from Sep 24 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 10Fall: direct sow Aug 22 | From May 20Fall: from Oct 1 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 10Fall: direct sow Aug 1 | From Jun 9Fall: from Sep 30 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 10Fall: direct sow Sep 5 | From May 5Fall: from Sep 30 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 17 | From Jun 26 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 24 | From Jun 18 |
| Kale | Mar 27 | Transplant Apr 24Fall: direct sow Aug 1 | From Jun 18Fall: from Sep 25 |
| Broccoli | Mar 27 | Transplant Apr 24 | From Jun 28 |
| Cabbage | Mar 27 | Transplant Apr 24 | From Jul 3 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 17 | Transplant May 8 | From Jul 2 |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 | Transplant May 8 | From Jun 27 |
| Winter squash | Apr 17 | Transplant May 8 | From Aug 6 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 8 | From Jul 2 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 24 | From Jul 13 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 17 to Oct 24 | Around Jul 24 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Madison's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Madison
Plant garlic Oct 17 to Oct 24. That is one to two weeks after Madison's average first fall frost of Oct 10, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 24 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Madison.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Madison:
- Peas: sow Aug 1, ready from about Sep 30
- Kale: sow Aug 1, ready from about Sep 25
- Lettuce: sow Aug 15, ready from about Sep 24
- Spinach: sow Aug 22, ready from about Oct 1
- Radishes: sow Sep 5, ready from about Sep 30
Nearby planting calendars
Madison planting questions
When is the last frost in Madison?
The average last spring frost in Madison is May 1, and the average first fall frost is Oct 10, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Madison?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 20, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 15, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Madison in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 17 to Oct 24. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 1, lettuce around Aug 15, spinach around Aug 22 and radishes around Sep 5.