When to Start Pepper Seed in Wisconsin
In most of Wisconsin, start pepper seed indoors in late February to mid-March, counting back 8 to 10 weeks from a transplant date that falls after the…
Gardening in Wisconsin
Everything we have worked out for Wisconsin: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Milwaukee, the last spring freeze runs April 16 to April 29 and the first fall freeze runs October 17 to October 29, USDA zones 3b-6a, 2,808 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Wisconsin: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
What Eats Potato in Wisconsin, and When
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension documents a long list of garden insects for the state, but only a handful of them feed on potato.
What Eats Parsnip in Wisconsin, and When
Wisconsin’s documented list of parsnip pests is short and mostly underground: aphids, flea beetles, slugs, cutworms and common stalk borer, seed corn…
What Do Homes in Wisconsin Cool With?
Wisconsin homes cool mostly the same way they heat: through ductwork already in the house.
When to Overseed a Lawn in Wisconsin
Overseed Wisconsin lawns between early September and mid-September, with the exact date depending on where you live in the state.
First and Last Frost Dates in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the last spring frost typically falls between April 16 and April 29, and the first fall frost arrives between October 17 and October 29…
When to Pick Tomatoes in Wisconsin, and Ripening the Rest
The short answer: pick tomatoes in Wisconsin before the first fall freeze hits, and that freeze typically lands between October 17 and October 29…
When to Harvest Garlic in Wisconsin, and How to Cure It
Garlic Harvest And Storage Wisconsin comes down to two windows: lifting in mid to late July when the lower leaves have browned but four to six up top…
When to Pick Apples in Wisconsin, and How Long They Keep
Pick time in Wisconsin isn’t a date on a calendar. It’s a set of signs on the tree: background skin color shifting from green to yellow, seeds turning…
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Wisconsin Cool?
Yes, insulation helps a Wisconsin home stay cooler, but the state’s short, sharp summer means the bigger payoff still comes from keeping heat in during…