What to plant this week in Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee gardeners are currently in the critical transition window between late spring cleanup and early summer planting, with a chance of light frost lingering until mid-April. Focus your energy on transplanting warm-weather favorites like zucchini, sweet corn, and okra while holding off on any last-minute sowings that require soil warmth above 60°F.
The next 7 days
Milwaukee, WIGrowing in Milwaukee right now
- Wait for the ground to fully thaw before digging heavy clay soils common in Milwaukee's south suburbs; spring rain can turn them into mud quickly. Use raised beds or mix in generous compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot during this damp transition period.
- Protect tender transplants like basil, edamame, and nasturtiums from unexpected chilly snaps using row covers or floating fabric until the threat of frost passes completely.
- Take advantage of the warm days now for mulching around established perennials to retain moisture as Milwaukee moves into its typically humid summer growing season.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
45 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and sweet corn every two weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and okra to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering too early.
- Add a thin layer of straw or shredded leaves around heavy feeders like pumpkins and squash to retain moisture.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for aphid colonies on new growth of basil, beans, and corn as temperatures stabilize in the low 60s. Apply a strong jet of water or neem oil immediately if you see them clustering on stems.
- Spider mites can appear suddenly on ornamental pears and tomatoes if the weather turns dry and windy before the usual July rainstorms.
- Snails and slugs are highly active now near Lake Michigan's influence; check seedlings at dawn and use iron phosphate bait or copper tape barriers.
Watering this week
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, applying it deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and disease risk.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash early in the day when they are most tender and flavorful for your table.
Milwaukee gardening questions
3Can I plant my garlic now, or should I wait for next fall?
It is too late to plant fresh garlic cloves in Milwaukee this week as the soil needs to warm up significantly before transplanting. Save your bulbs for a fall planting after Labor Day when temperatures drop below 50°F.
My zucchini plants are wilting despite no rain; what's wrong?
This is often a sign of root-bound stress or early wilt disease common in our clay-heavy soils where drainage is poor. Pull up the plant, check if roots are circling tightly in the pot, and ensure you water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth.
When can I start harvesting my pumpkins and winter squash?
You can begin checking for maturity on your pumpkin and winter squash varieties now by looking for a hard rind that doesn't dent easily when scratched. Leave the stems intact and let them cure in a dry, shaded spot for two weeks before storing.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Milwaukee garden in SproutGuide →