Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Eau Claire

United States

In Eau Claire the last spring frost usually comes around 28 April and the first autumn frost around 24 October, which leaves about 179 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 16 May to 4 July.

Last spring frostaround 28 April
First autumn frostaround 24 October
Frost-free days179 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Eau Claire?

The last frost in Eau Claire usually comes around 28 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 7 April, while corn waits until 7 May. The first autumn frost follows around 24 October, about 179 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha5 March – 16 July14 April – 25 August5 May – 25 August
Ageratumfrom 28 February—from 16 May
Arugula——sow 7 April – 19 September
Basil31 March – 22 August8 May – 29 September29 May – 29 September
Beet——sow 7 April – 25 August
Bell Pepper9 March – 5 May8 May – 4 July29 May – 4 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 11 February—from 5 May
Bok Choy10 March – 2 September14 April – 7 October5 May – 7 October
Borage——sow 5 May – 30 August
Broad bean——sow 7 April – 16 July
Broccoli——sow 7 April – 9 July
Brussels Sprouts31 January – 6 June17 March – 21 July7 April – 21 July
Busy Lizziefrom 10 February—from 5 May
Cabbage——sow 7 April – 16 June
Calendula——sow from 7 April
Carrot——sow 7 April – 1 August
Cauliflower3 February – 9 July17 March – 20 August7 April – 20 August
Celeriac27 January – 6 May14 April – 22 July5 May – 22 July
Celery27 January – 16 May14 April – 1 August5 May – 1 August
Celosiafrom 15 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Chamomile——sow 7 April – 20 August
Chayote18 January – 29 April16 April – 26 July7 May – 26 July
Chickpea——sow 7 April – 6 July
Chicory20 February – 31 July—7 April – 25 August
Chili Pepper9 March – 11 June8 May – 10 August29 May – 10 August
China asterfrom 17 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Chives——sow 7 April – 11 August
Cilantro——sow 7 April – 21 August
Corn——sow 7 May – 6 July
Corn poppy——sow from 7 April
Cosmosfrom 15 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Cucumber10 April – 12 July8 May – 9 August29 May – 9 August
Daikon——sow 7 April – 18 August
Delphiniumfrom 17 January—from 7 April
Dill——sow 7 April – 31 August
Edging lobeliafrom 10 February—from 5 May
Eggplant9 March – 5 May8 May – 4 July29 May – 4 July
Florence fennel28 February – 16 July14 April – 30 August5 May – 30 August
Foxglovefrom 30 December—from 7 April
Garden sorrel——sow 7 April – 19 August
Green Beans——sow 20 May – 14 July
Hollyhock——sow from 7 April
Hyssop——sow 7 April – 12 July
Kale——sow 7 April – 13 August
Kiwano24 March – 19 July25 April – 20 August16 May – 20 August
Kohlrabi——sow 7 April – 23 August
Leek6 January – 27 April17 March – 6 July7 April – 6 July
Lemon balm——sow 7 April – 15 August
Lettuce——sow 7 April – 28 August
Lisianthusfrom 20 Decemberfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Lovage——sow from 7 April
Luffa27 March – 13 May8 May – 24 June29 May – 24 June
Marigoldfrom 3 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Marjoram9 March – 31 July—29 May – 29 September
Melon10 April – 29 June8 May – 27 July29 May – 27 July
Microgreens——sow 20 May – 10 October
Moringa25 March – 5 August19 May – 29 September9 June – 29 September
Moss rosefrom 17 February—from 5 May
Mustard greens——sow 7 April – 9 September
Napa cabbage12 March – 10 August14 April – 12 September5 May – 12 September
Nasturtiumfrom 7 Marchfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Okra27 March – 24 July8 May – 4 September29 May – 4 September
Oregano16 January – 21 July17 March – 19 September7 April – 19 September
Pansyfrom 20 Januaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Parsley——sow 7 April – 9 August
Parsnip——sow 7 April – 28 June
Peanut1 April – 19 June8 May – 26 July29 May – 26 July
Peas——sow 7 April – 11 August
Petuniafrom 6 Marchfrom 8 Mayfrom 29 May
Physalis11 March – 16 June25 April – 31 July16 May – 31 July
Pumpkin27 March – 18 May8 May – 29 June29 May – 29 June
Purple coneflowerfrom 14 January—from 7 April
Radish——sow 7 April – 24 September
Sage27 January – 17 July17 March – 4 September7 April – 4 September
Scarlet sagefrom 4 March—from 16 May
Snapdragonfrom 11 Januaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Soybean——sow 29 May – 5 August
Spinach——sow 7 April – 30 August
Stevia7 March – 7 June25 April – 26 July16 May – 26 July
Stock——sow from 7 April
Sunflower——sow from 20 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 7 April
Sweet Corn28 March – 31 July19 April – 22 August10 May – 22 August
Sweet peafrom 3 Februaryfrom 17 Marchfrom 7 April
Sweet William——sow from 7 April
Swiss Chard——sow 7 April – 25 August
Thyme——sow 7 April – 6 July
Tomato4 March – 13 May25 April – 4 July16 May – 4 July
Turnip——sow 7 April – 27 August
Watercress——sow 7 April – 7 September
Watermelon10 April – 17 June8 May – 15 July29 May – 15 July
Zinniafrom 14 Aprilfrom 19 Mayfrom 9 June
Zucchini17 April – 17 July8 May – 7 August29 May – 7 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Eau Claire

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 3 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 18 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C5 April23 days earlier
10 °C25 April3 days earlier
15 °C16 May18 days later
18 °C29 May31 days later

Frost dates near Eau Claire

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Cedar Rapids (22 April) and latest in Green Bay (29 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Minneapolis141 km28 April24 October
Duluth223 km28 April28 October
Madison257 km27 April27 October
Green Bay277 km29 April30 October
Cedar Rapids318 km22 April25 October

What to grow at home in winter in Eau Claire

Frosts in Eau Claire usually come from about 24 October to about 28 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Eau Claire by month

Average weather in Eau Claire over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (20.6–27.7 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in November–March (-12.2–-1.5 °C). About 963 mm of rain falls in a year, on 118 days; August is the wettest month (123 mm) and January the driest (32 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-3.5-12.2326
February-1.1-11.7377
March6.8-3.7679
April12.61.69013
May20.69.211912
June26.315.611413
July27.717.510412
August2616.612311
September2313.71029
October14.86.27910
November6.2-1.5497
December-0.9-8.9479

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 24 September
Crocus24 September – 11 November
Daffodil24 September – 11 November
Garlic24 September – 11 November
Grape hyacinthby 24 September
Helleboreby 24 September
Hyacinth24 September – 11 November
Lilyby 24 September
Ornamental onionby 24 September
Peonyby 24 September
Saffronby 24 September
Snowdropby 24 September
Tulip24 September – 11 November
Wild garlicby 24 September

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).