Pleasant Prairie, WI planting zone & frost dates
Pleasant Prairie is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 19, for a growing season of about 174 days.
Planting calendar for Pleasant Prairie
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 28) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 3 – Mar 17 Transplant outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: May 12 – May 19 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: May 12 – May 19 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 Transplant outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 24 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 19).
Useful for zone 5b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | May 13 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 31 | Oct 19 | Oct 1 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 13, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 1. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 15.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Pleasant Prairie
- 53158 zone 5b
Nearby cities
- Kenosha zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Mount Pleasant zone 6a, last frost Apr 20
- Salem zone 5b, last frost Apr 30
- Racine zone 6a, last frost Apr 20
- Caledonia zone 5b, last frost Apr 24
- Oak Creek zone 6a, last frost Apr 22
- Franklin zone 5b, last frost May 3
- South Milwaukee zone 6a, last frost Apr 22
Questions
What growing zone is Pleasant Prairie, WI?
Pleasant Prairie is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average extreme winter low -15°F to -10°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Pleasant Prairie?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Pleasant Prairie is April 28. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 13.
When can I plant tomatoes in Pleasant Prairie?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 5 – May 12. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Kenosha Rgnl Ap, WI (USW00004845), 4.7 km (2.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 226 m, based on 20 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.