Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee, WI is in USDA zones 5b to 6a across its 39 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 22.

Milwaukee on the zone map

Outlined: its 29 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones5b–6a−15 to −5 °F
ZIP codes39
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 22
Growing season177 days

5b 11 ZIPs   6a 28 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Milwaukee, WI…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Milwaukee, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station West Allis, WI, elevation 722 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Milwaukee

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 22) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 53208 came on Mar 30 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in Wisconsin

518 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 93

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 197

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 159

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Milwaukee, WI.

Soil in Milwaukee, WI

The center of ZIP 53208 is mapped as No Digital Data Available: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 53208; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Milwaukee, WI

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights133nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,001base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall52 inper year; 60 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 15 °F 31°15° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.23 in precipitation, 13.5 in snowfall 2.2❄14 JanFebruary: 2.15 in precipitation, 13.6 in snowfall 2.1❄14 FebMarch: 2.53 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 2.5❄8 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 3.7❄2 AprMay: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.08 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.1 OctNovember: 2.31 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 2.3❄1 NovDecember: 2.25 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 2.3❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: West Allis, WI (2 mi away); precipitation: West Allis, WI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Milwaukee

532016a
−10 to −5 °F
532026a
−10 to −5 °F
532036a
−10 to −5 °F
532046a
−10 to −5 °F
532056a
−10 to −5 °F
532066a
−10 to −5 °F
532076a
−10 to −5 °F
532086a
−10 to −5 °F
532096a
−10 to −5 °F
532106a
−10 to −5 °F
532116a
−10 to −5 °F
532126a
−10 to −5 °F
532135b
−15 to −10 °F
532145b
−15 to −10 °F
532156a
−10 to −5 °F
532166a
−10 to −5 °F
532176a
−10 to −5 °F
532186a
−10 to −5 °F
532195b
−15 to −10 °F
532205b
−15 to −10 °F
532216a
−10 to −5 °F
532225b
−15 to −10 °F
532236a
−10 to −5 °F
532245b
−15 to −10 °F
532255b
−15 to −10 °F
532265b
−15 to −10 °F
532275b
−15 to −10 °F
532285b
−15 to −10 °F
532336a
−10 to −5 °F
532346a
−10 to −5 °F
532376a
−10 to −5 °F
532596a
−10 to −5 °F
532635b
−15 to −10 °F
532746a
−10 to −5 °F
532786a
−10 to −5 °F
532886a
−10 to −5 °F
532906a
−10 to −5 °F
532936a
−10 to −5 °F
532956a
−10 to −5 °F

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about Milwaukee

What planting zone is Milwaukee, WI?

Milwaukee, WI is in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Milwaukee, WI?

The median last spring frost is April 26 and the median first fall frost is October 22 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, West Allis station).

When can I plant a garden in Milwaukee, WI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 15 – Apr 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 3, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Milwaukee, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Milwaukee, WI get?

About 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).