In Windsor, the average last spring frost is Apr 25 and the average first fall frost is Oct 28, a growing season of about 186 days (zone 7a). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 14 and move them outside from May 9. Plant garlic Nov 4 to Nov 11, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Windsor at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 25 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 28 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 186 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a (NRCan)
- Weather stations
- Windsor; Windsor Riverside; and Dearborn #2, MI, 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 Windsor this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Windsor in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 14.
What to plant in Windsor this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 14
Coming up in early March: start tomatoes indoors (Mar 14), start peppers indoors (Mar 14), start eggplant indoors (Mar 14) and start lettuce indoors (Mar 14).
What to plant in Windsor this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 14
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 14
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 14
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 14
- Start kale indoors: Mar 21
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 21
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 21
- Start basil indoors: Mar 28
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 4), direct sow peas (Apr 4), direct sow radishes (Apr 4), transplant lettuce (Apr 11), direct sow carrots (Apr 11), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 11), start zucchini indoors (Apr 11) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 11).
What to plant in Windsor this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 4
- Direct sow peas: Apr 4
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 4
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 11
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 11
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 11
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 11
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 11
- Direct sow beets: Apr 18
- Transplant kale: Apr 18
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 18
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 18
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 18
- Transplant onions: Apr 25
Coming up in early May: transplant cucumbers (May 2), transplant zucchini (May 2), transplant winter squash (May 2), direct sow beans (May 2), transplant tomatoes (May 9), transplant peppers (May 9), transplant eggplant (May 9) and transplant basil (May 9).
What to plant in Windsor this month (May)
- Transplant cucumbers: May 2
- Transplant zucchini: May 2
- Transplant winter squash: May 2
- Direct sow beans: May 2
- Transplant tomatoes: May 9
- Transplant peppers: May 9
- Transplant eggplant: May 9
- Transplant basil: May 9
What to plant in Windsor this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Windsor in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 19.
What to plant in Windsor this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Windsor in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 19.
What to plant in Windsor this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 19
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 19
Coming up in early September: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Sep 2) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Sep 9).
What to plant in Windsor this month (September)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 2
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 9
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 23
What to plant in Windsor this month (October)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Windsor in October. Next up: plant garlic on Nov 4.
What to plant in Windsor this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Nov 4 to Nov 11
What to plant in Windsor this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Windsor in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 14.
Windsor planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 14 | Transplant May 9 | From Jul 26 |
| Peppers | Mar 14 | Transplant May 9 | From Jul 20 |
| Eggplant | Mar 14 | Transplant May 9 | From Jul 23 |
| Basil | Mar 28 | Transplant May 9 | From Jun 20 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 14 | Transplant Apr 25 | From Aug 3 |
| Lettuce | Mar 14 | Transplant Apr 11Fall: direct sow Sep 2 | From May 21Fall: from Oct 12 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 4Fall: direct sow Sep 9 | From May 14Fall: from Oct 19 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 4Fall: direct sow Aug 19 | From Jun 3Fall: from Oct 18 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 4Fall: direct sow Sep 23 | From Apr 29Fall: from Oct 18 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 11 | From Jun 20 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 18 | From Jun 12 |
| Kale | Mar 21 | Transplant Apr 18Fall: direct sow Aug 19 | From Jun 12Fall: from Oct 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 21 | Transplant Apr 18 | From Jun 22 |
| Cabbage | Mar 21 | Transplant Apr 18 | From Jun 27 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 11 | Transplant May 2 | From Jun 26 |
| Zucchini | Apr 11 | Transplant May 2 | From Jun 21 |
| Winter squash | Apr 11 | Transplant May 2 | From Jul 31 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 2 | From Jun 26 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 18 | From Jul 7 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Nov 4 to Nov 11 | Around Jul 18 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Windsor'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 Windsor
Plant garlic Nov 4 to Nov 11. That is one to two weeks after Windsor's average first fall frost of Oct 28, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 18 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Windsor.
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 Windsor:
- Peas: sow Aug 19, ready from about Oct 18
- Kale: sow Aug 19, ready from about Oct 13
- Lettuce: sow Sep 2, ready from about Oct 12
- Spinach: sow Sep 9, ready from about Oct 19
- Radishes: sow Sep 23, ready from about Oct 18
Nearby planting calendars
Windsor planting questions
When is the last frost in Windsor?
The average last spring frost in Windsor is Apr 25, and the average first fall frost is Oct 28, 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 Windsor?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 14, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 9, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Windsor in fall?
Garlic goes in Nov 4 to Nov 11. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 19, lettuce around Sep 2, spinach around Sep 9 and radishes around Sep 23.