When is the last frost in Madison, WI?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Madison is May 1, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 16.

When is the first frost in Madison?

The average first fall frost in Madison is October 10, with a growing season of about 160 days.

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Madison, Wisconsin frost dates

Average last spring frost: May 1. Average first fall frost: October 10. That gives a growing season of about 160 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 16, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

May 1

1-in-10 risk after May 16

First frost (50%)

Oct 10

1-in-10 risk before Sep 26

Growing season

160 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 20

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 16	October 24
70%	April 25	October 15
50%	May 1	October 10
30%	May 7	October 4
10%	May 16	September 26

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 16. These are NOAA probabilities for the Madison Dane Regional Airport weather station (USW00014837, elevation 264 m), 1991–2020.

Madison vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (May 1). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 16) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Apr 10	May 8 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 20	Apr 3
Brussels sprouts	Feb 20	Apr 3
Cabbage	Feb 13	Mar 27
Cauliflower	Mar 6	Apr 17
Sweet corn	Apr 3	May 1 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 17	May 8
Kale	Feb 13	Mar 27
Leeks	Jan 16	Mar 27
Lettuce	Mar 13	Apr 17
Melons	Apr 24	May 15
Onions	Jan 9	Mar 20 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Mar 6	Apr 3 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 20	May 15
Squash	Apr 24	May 15
Tomatoes	Mar 6	May 1

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 10. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before September 26. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around October 22.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Milwaukee, WI	Apr 19	Oct 29	~119 km
Chicago, IL	Apr 16	Oct 28	~171 km
Green Bay, WI	Apr 30	Oct 9	~181 km
Cedar Rapids, IA	Apr 27	Oct 11	~237 km
Peoria, IL	Apr 16	Oct 23	~276 km
Grand Rapids, MI	Apr 29	Oct 20	~309 km

More: all Wisconsin frost dates