When is the last frost in Appleton, WI?

The average last spring frost (50% probability of 32°F) in Appleton is around May 4, based on NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals at the Appleton, WI station (2.8 mi away). Half of years it falls outside that date, so wait 1–2 weeks past it before setting out frost-tender plants.

When is the first fall frost in Appleton?

The average first fall frost in Appleton, WI is around October 6, giving roughly a 154-day frost-free growing season.

What planting zone is Appleton, WI?

Appleton is in USDA plant hardiness zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature -15 to -10°F), from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

What is the weather like in Appleton?

In Appleton, WI the warmest month is July (avg high 81.5°F) and the coldest is January (avg low 10°F). It averages about 33.2″ of precipitation a year and 49.4″ of snow.

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Appleton, WI Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 5b · ZIP 54911 · elevation 241′ · NOAA & USDA data

Appleton is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (winters can dip to -15 to -10°F), with a growing season of about 154 days between the average last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (October 6). The warmest month is July (avg high 81.5°F); the coldest is January (avg low 10°F). It averages 33.2″ of precipitation a year and 49.4″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone

min temp -15 to -10°F

Last spring frost

May 4

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

First fall frost

October 6

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

Growing season

154 days

frost-free window

Warmest month

July

avg high 81.5°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Appleton

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Appleton, WI (2.8 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Mean	Precip (in)	Snow (in)
January	25.4	10	17.7	1.4	12.6
February	29.1	11.7	20.4	1.1	11.2
March	40.6	22.1	31.4	1.9	7.2
April	54	33.9	44	3.2	4
May	67.2	46.4	56.8	3.6	0.1
June	77	56.6	66.8	4.7	0
July	81.5	61.3	71.4	3.8	0
August	79.3	59.8	69.5	3.6	0
September	71.9	50.8	61.3	3.2	0
October	57.8	39.3	48.6	2.8	0.3
November	43.4	27.6	35.5	2.1	2.4
December	30.7	16.8	23.8	1.8	11.6

What to plant when in Appleton

Crop	Season	What to do & when
Tomatoes	warm	Start seeds indoors: March 23 · Transplant out: May 11
Peppers	warm	Start seeds indoors: March 9 · Transplant out: May 18
Cucumbers	warm	Direct sow: May 11
Zucchini / squash	warm	Direct sow: May 11
Bush beans	warm	Direct sow: May 11
Sweet corn	warm	Direct sow: May 11
Basil	warm	Transplant out: May 11
Peas	cool	Sow (spring): March 30 · Sow (fall): August 11
Spinach	cool	Sow (spring): March 23 · Sow (fall): August 11
Lettuce	cool	Sow (spring): April 6 · Sow (fall): August 11
Kale	cool	Transplant (spring): April 13 · Sow (fall): July 28
Broccoli	cool	Transplant (spring): April 20
Carrots	cool	Sow (spring): April 13 · Sow (fall): July 28
Onions	cool	Transplant (spring): April 6
Potatoes	cool	Plant seed potatoes: April 20
Radishes	cool	Sow (spring): April 6 · Sow (fall): August 25

Dates are computed from Appleton's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Wisconsin

Oshkosh, WI Green Bay, WI Fond Du Lac, WI Sheboygan, WI Wausau, WI Brookfield, WI Waukesha, WI Milwaukee, WI

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Appleton, WI, 2.8 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Appleton, WI, 2.8 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.