Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 53523 (Lake Ripley, 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, Lake Mills Wwtp, WI (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)167 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°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 53523 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.
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 13 |
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) | Sep 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 29 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 17 | Oct 26 |
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 53523
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 14). 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 | Mar 4–18 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 18–Mar 4 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 18–Mar 4 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 4–18 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 4–18 | Apr 8–29 (transplant) Apr 1–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 8–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–29 (transplant) Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 8–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–May 6 (transplant) Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 25–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 20–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 1–8 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 1–8 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 1–8 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 1–8 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 1–8 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 4–18 | May 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (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: Lake Mills Wwtp, WI (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00474482), elevation 811 ft, 9.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ft Atkinson, WI | 10 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 13 |
| Stoughton, WI | 11 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 11 |
| Jefferson Wwtp, WI | 11 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 53523
When is the last frost in 53523?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 53523 is April 29. For a more cautious planting date, use May 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 53523?
The average first fall freeze is October 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 29.
What hardiness zone is 53523?
ZIP 53523 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 53523 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
53531 Deerfield 53551 Lake Mills 53534 Edgerton 53527 Cottage Grove 53538 Lake Koshkonong 53589 Stoughton 53558 McFarland 53559 Marshall
Other ZIP codes in Dane County
53508 53515 53517 53527 53528 53529 53531 53532 53558 53559 53560 53562 53571 53572 53575 53589 53590 53593 53597 53598 53703 53704 53705 53706 All Dane 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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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.