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When to plant daffodils in Milwaukee: 2 October – 25 November

In Milwaukee, daffodil: plant from 2 October to about 25 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Fred's Garden Center (garden centre, 8 km) and Stein's Garden and Home (garden centre, 11 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Daffodil in Milwaukee: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -8.2 °C.

Planting2 October – 25 November
First autumn frost1 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -8.2 °C
Soil back at 7 °C in spring10 April
Daylight11:43 on 2 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:00

The same dates in Milwaukee hold for Garlic, Tulip, Crocus and Hyacinth.

Daffodil in Milwaukee: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant daffodils three times the bulb’s height deep (RHS): about 13–15 cm for large bulbs, 15–20 cm apart (University of Georgia Extension). The RHS advises planting them early in autumn, ideally in September in the UK, so do not leave them late: aim for the start of the window, 2 October.

In Milwaukee the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Daffodils are long-lived: clumps slowly expand over the years (RHS). Leave the leaves for at least eight weeks after flowering — they feed next year’s flowers (University of Georgia Extension).

Squirrels avoid daffodils, so they can be planted among tulips to reduce losses (RHS). Daffodils are toxic to dogs, cats and horses; the bulbs are the most poisonous part, and a large amount can cause convulsions and heart rhythm problems (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, University of Georgia Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Daffodil in nearby cities

Around Milwaukee, Madison is 5 days earlier and Traverse City 8 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Madison121 km27 September – 20 November5 days earlier
Rockford128 km28 September – 25 November4 days earlier
Chicago131 km7 October – 3 December5 days later
Green Bay165 km30 September – 17 November2 days earlier
Grand Rapids182 km4 October – 29 November2 days later
Traverse City266 km10 October – 26 November8 days later

Where to buy daffodil for planting in Milwaukee

Planting stock goes into the ground from 2 October to about 25 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Milwaukee OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 10 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant daffodils in Milwaukee?

In Milwaukee, daffodil: plant from 2 October to about 25 November. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Milwaukee?

Last spring frost around 27 April, first autumn frost around 1 November.

Other crops in Milwaukee, with their dates