Issue No. 21, May 1, 1999

Frost Dates and Getting Ready to Garden
Patti Nagai, Horticulture Agent, Racine County

This time of year Wisconsin gardeners start to get a bit antsy to get outdoors and plant something. If you live in southeast or south central Wisconsin, you're getting close to that date of planting - and could even begin planting some cool season vegetables in a few weeks. But if you live in northern or western areas, you may have a little while to plan before you venture outdoors.

Wisconsin is a diverse gardening state with hardiness zones ranging from 3a to 5b. The lower the number, the colder it is and the hardier the plants must be to survive. The lower the number the longer you have to wait to plant in the spring.

One of the measurements used to judge spring planting time is the last killing frost date. Our agriculture statistics are based on many years of data averaged together. Although the last killing frost date for Racine is April 26 and the date for northern Wisconsin varies from May 24 to June 6, each year is unique. Last year gardeners that took a chance and planted early were rewarded with early, bountiful harvests. This year the same risk could result in total gardening failure. Check out the weather data for your area with your county agent or online at the UW Extension's Wisconsin Horticulture Weather Update page to plan your planting carefully.

Patti Nagai has lived and gardened in Wisconsin for two years now, having previously lived in Japan, Indiana, New York, Maryland, Mississippi and South Carolina. Patti has a BS and MS in Horticulture and a Ph.D. in Crop Physiology. Her special horticulture interests include environmental stress responses and adaptations of plants and low maintenance houseplants. She can be contacted at 414-886-8460, by e-mail at patti.nagai@ces.uwex.edu or by mail at 14200 Washington Ave., Sturtevant, WI 53177.

For more information on spring planning, Dane County Master Gardener Ann Munson suggests the following Extension bulletins:

Growing and Using Annuals and Bulbs (NCR 399) $2.00

Perennials (NCR 556) 80¢

Vegetable Cultivars and Planting Guide for Wisconsin Gardens 1999 (A2653) 50¢

To receive any of these bulletins, send your order to Dane County Extension Office, Attn: Ann Munson, 57 Fairgrounds Drive, Madison, WI 53713.

Please add $1.50 for shipping. For orders over $5.00, add $2.50 for shipping.