Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

The Best Time to Plant Fruit Trees in Wisconsin

...
apple tree image by Ira from Fotolia.com

The average American eats about 65 apples each year, and many of them come from Wisconsin. Wisconsin gardeners also grow pears, plums, sour cherries and other fruits. Choosing when to plant your fruit trees is just as important as choosing the right cultivar.

Find Frost Dates

...
drops trees spring image by Pali A from Fotolia.com

In Wisconsin, the average last killing frosts occur from April 26 to May 16 in the south and from mid-May through the first week in June in the north. Northern hard frosts begin mid-to-late September, extending to late October farther south. Determining the average frost dates for your area helps you decide when to plant. Fall plantings must be made at least a month before the first frost, and spring plantings should be done well after the last frost.

Hardy Varieties

...
macintosh apple image by Andrew Kazmierski from Fotolia.com

Apple varieties well-suited for Wisconsin's extremely cold temperatures include Red Delicious, McIntosh, Gala and Empire. European pear varieties grow throughout the state, but peaches and sweet cherries thrive only in the warmer, southeast part of Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin Extension's publications provide complete lists of appropriate fruit trees.

Packaging

...
Red flowering apple trees covered the sun. image by petrovit from Fotolia.com

Container-grown trees can be planted in early spring or fall in Wisconsin, but bare-root trees must be planted in spring. The UW Extension recommends planting both types of stock as soon as trees are available in local nurseries in spring.

Related Articles

Fruit Trees That Grow in Wisconsin
Fruit Trees That Grow in Wisconsin
What Fruit Trees Are Good for Indiana?
What Fruit Trees Are Good for Indiana?
Fruit Trees That Grow Well in Iowa
Fruit Trees That Grow Well in Iowa
Types of Fruit Trees in the Northeast
Types of Fruit Trees in the Northeast
Fruit Trees in Tennessee
Fruit Trees in Tennessee
How to Grow Fruit Trees in Georgia
How to Grow Fruit Trees in Georgia
The Best Time to Plant Trees in Ohio
The Best Time to Plant Trees in Ohio
Fruit and Nut Trees in Washington
Fruit and Nut Trees in Washington
The Best Fruit Trees Suited for Pueblo, CO
The Best Fruit Trees Suited for Pueblo, CO
Fruit Trees That Grow in North Florida
Fruit Trees That Grow in North Florida
Fruit Trees in Alabama
Fruit Trees in Alabama
When to Plant Trees in Kansas
When to Plant Trees in Kansas
What Climate Do I Need to Grow Strawberries In?
What Climate Do I Need to Grow Strawberries In?
Fruit Tree Varieties for Missouri
Fruit Tree Varieties for Missouri
The Best Fruit Trees for Tennessee
The Best Fruit Trees for Tennessee
The Best Fruit & Nut Trees to Grow in Georgia
The Best Fruit & Nut Trees to Grow in Georgia
Fruit Trees in Idaho
Fruit Trees in Idaho
Garden Guides
×