When to plant in Cuba City, WI
Planting dates worked out from Cuba City's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 179 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 29about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 161 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlySep 221 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 5about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 219 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 158 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Platteville · 16.2 km away · station 302 m, town 308 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | May 16 – May 30 | Jul 10 |
| Sweet pepper | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | May 16 – May 30 | Jul 15 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Mar 1 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 15 |
| Peas | — | Apr 5 – May 3 | May 30 |
| Bush beans | — | May 9 – May 30 | Jun 28 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jun 14 |
| Beet | — | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jun 4 |
| Potato | — | Apr 15 – May 6 | Jun 24 |
| Kale | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | May 25 |
| Broccoli | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Jun 4 |
| Cucumber | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | May 16 – May 30 | Jul 5 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | May 16 – May 30 | Jun 30 |
| Winter squash | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | May 16 – May 30 | Aug 4 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 9 – May 30 | Jul 8 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Jul 4 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 21 – Oct 19 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Apr 5 – May 3 | May 13 |
| Basil | Apr 4 – Apr 18 | May 16 – May 30 | Jul 12 |
Cuba City's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1948 | Apr 17 |
| 1950 | May 1 |
| 1951 | Apr 26 |
| 1952 | May 29 |
| 1953 | May 13 |
| 1954 | May 9 |
| 1955 | Apr 8 |
| 1956 | May 16 |
| 1957 | May 5 |
| 1958 | May 7 |
| 1959 | Apr 22 |
| 1960 | May 12 |
| 1961 | May 26 |
| 1962 | Apr 20 |
| 1963 | May 23 |
| 1964 | Apr 15 |
| 1965 | May 29 |
| 1966 | May 14 |
| 1967 | May 20 |
| 1968 | Apr 27 |
| 1969 | May 12 |
| 1970 | May 6 |
| 1971 | May 27 |
| 1972 | Apr 26 |
| 1973 | May 17 |
| 1974 | May 7 |
| 1975 | Apr 22 |
| 1976 | May 8 |
| 1977 | May 9 |
| 1978 | May 6 |
| 1979 | May 1 |
| 1980 | May 9 |
| 1981 | May 12 |
| 1982 | Apr 27 |
| 1983 | May 9 |
| 1984 | May 29 |
| 1985 | Apr 10 |
| 1986 | May 3 |
| 1987 | Apr 5 |
| 1988 | May 25 |
| 1989 | May 7 |
| 1990 | May 11 |
| 1991 | Apr 24 |
| 1992 | May 27 |
| 1993 | Apr 23 |
| 1994 | May 2 |
| 1995 | Apr 25 |
| 1996 | May 2 |
| 1997 | May 16 |
| 1998 | Apr 18 |
| 1999 | Apr 25 |
| 2000 | Apr 22 |
| 2001 | Apr 19 |
| 2002 | May 21 |
| 2003 | Apr 23 |
| 2004 | May 4 |
| 2005 | May 6 |
| 2006 | Apr 10 |
| 2007 | Apr 17 |
| 2008 | Apr 29 |
| 2009 | Apr 13 |
| 2010 | May 9 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1948 | 175 |
| 1950 | 145 |
| 1951 | 154 |
| 1952 | 116 |
| 1953 | 131 |
| 1954 | 150 |
| 1955 | 155 |
| 1956 | 126 |
| 1957 | 145 |
| 1958 | 146 |
| 1959 | 148 |
| 1960 | 158 |
| 1961 | 124 |
| 1962 | 152 |
| 1963 | 157 |
| 1964 | 165 |
| 1965 | 135 |
| 1966 | 138 |
| 1967 | 131 |
| 1968 | 159 |
| 1969 | 154 |
| 1970 | 156 |
| 1971 | 132 |
| 1972 | 156 |
| 1973 | 152 |
| 1974 | 137 |
| 1975 | 143 |
| 1976 | 136 |
| 1977 | 149 |
| 1978 | 154 |
| 1979 | 156 |
| 1980 | 147 |
| 1981 | 138 |
| 1982 | 146 |
| 1983 | 135 |
| 1984 | 109 |
| 1985 | 178 |
| 1986 | 155 |
| 1987 | 180 |
| 1988 | 131 |
| 1989 | 138 |
| 1990 | 152 |
| 1991 | 148 |
| 1992 | 124 |
| 1993 | 159 |
| 1994 | 160 |
| 1995 | 149 |
| 1996 | 153 |
| 1997 | 150 |
| 1998 | 178 |
| 2000 | 166 |
| 2001 | 158 |
| 2002 | 138 |
| 2003 | 158 |
| 2004 | 150 |
| 2005 | 169 |
| 2006 | 184 |
| 2007 | 150 |
| 2008 | 174 |
| 2009 | 179 |
| 2010 | 165 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1948 | 18.9 °C |
| 1950 | 16.9 °C |
| 1952 | 18.1 °C |
| 1953 | 17.7 °C |
| 1954 | 17.8 °C |
| 1955 | 19.4 °C |
| 1956 | 17.3 °C |
| 1957 | 17.3 °C |
| 1958 | 17.0 °C |
| 1959 | 18.4 °C |
| 1960 | 17.9 °C |
| 1961 | 17.0 °C |
| 1962 | 17.2 °C |
| 1963 | 17.6 °C |
| 1964 | 17.8 °C |
| 1965 | 17.2 °C |
| 1966 | 16.3 °C |
| 1967 | 16.2 °C |
| 1968 | 17.3 °C |
| 1969 | 17.3 °C |
| 1970 | 17.9 °C |
| 1971 | 17.3 °C |
| 1972 | 17.1 °C |
| 1973 | 17.3 °C |
| 1974 | 16.5 °C |
| 1975 | 16.9 °C |
| 1976 | 17.6 °C |
| 1977 | 18.8 °C |
| 1978 | 17.8 °C |
| 1979 | 16.9 °C |
| 1980 | 18.1 °C |
| 1981 | 17.5 °C |
| 1983 | 17.9 °C |
| 1984 | 17.4 °C |
| 1985 | 18.0 °C |
| 1986 | 18.1 °C |
| 1987 | 19.1 °C |
| 1988 | 19.6 °C |
| 1989 | 17.3 °C |
| 1990 | 17.6 °C |
| 1991 | 18.2 °C |
| 1992 | 15.2 °C |
| 1993 | 15.8 °C |
| 1994 | 16.6 °C |
| 1995 | 17.1 °C |
| 1996 | 15.5 °C |
| 1997 | 15.8 °C |
| 1998 | 17.9 °C |
| 1999 | 17.4 °C |
| 2000 | 16.9 °C |
| 2001 | 17.2 °C |
| 2002 | 17.1 °C |
| 2003 | 16.7 °C |
| 2004 | 16.4 °C |
| 2005 | 18.0 °C |
| 2006 | 17.4 °C |
| 2007 | 17.5 °C |
| 2008 | 16.8 °C |
| 2009 | 16.3 °C |
| 2010 | 18.4 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1948, Cuba City's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 3 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Platteville (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.