PlantingWindowThe American Planting Almanac

When to plant garden cress in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

April 26 – May 10

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Milwaukee year

Climate basis: NOAA station West Allis, WI (USC00479046), 6 mi (10 km) from downtown Milwaukee (ZCTA 53202 centroid), elevation 723 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Direct-sow garden cress from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 26). One year in ten still freezes after May 12.

Last spring freezeApril 261-in-10 after May 12
First fall freezeOctober 221-in-10 before Oct 7
Frost-free season≈ 177 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 14 – Nov 1kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6a-10 to -5°F winter low — not frost timing

The Milwaukee year

Direct-sow outdoorsApr 26 – May 10
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 12
Garden Cress in Milwaukee · freeze context from West Allis, WI, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Apr 26 – May 10

Utah State University Extension says garden cress "does not tolerate frost so plant near the frost free date", and Arkansas Extension's culture line reads "seed shallow depth after danger of frost"; both open at the last spring frost, and this later interval supersedes Arkansas' looser "as soon as the ground can be worked" sentence, giving last spring frost to plus 14 days. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 26). Utah State University Extension · University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Offsets are for garden cress (Lepidium sativum), a 10–40 day cutting green; watercress and upland cress are different species with different requirements and are not covered by this entry.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (2)

Keep exploring

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