Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 53221 (Milwaukee, WI)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Milwaukee Mitchell AP, WI (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)192 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 53221 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 29: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 2 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 1 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 19 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 6 | Nov 8 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 53221
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 29). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–26 (transplant) Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Apr 26–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 8–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Milwaukee Mitchell AP, WI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00014839), elevation 670 ft, 2.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hales Corners/whitnall Park/bo, WI | 5 mi | May 3 | Oct 14 |
| West Allis, WI | 5 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 22 |
| South Milwaukee Wwtp, WI | 6 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 53221
When is the last frost in 53221?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 53221 is April 19. For a more cautious planting date, use May 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 53221?
The average first fall freeze is October 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 15.
What hardiness zone is 53221?
ZIP 53221 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 53221 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
53220 Greenfield 53207 Milwaukee 53129 Greendale 53215 Milwaukee 53219 Milwaukee 53235 St. Francis 53110 Cudahy 53204 Milwaukee
Other ZIP codes in Milwaukee County
53110 53129 53130 53132 53154 53172 53202 53203 53204 53205 53206 53207 53208 53209 53210 53211 53212 53213 53214 53215 53216 53217 53218 53219 All Milwaukee County frost dates · Wisconsin frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.