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When to Plant Cress in Chippewa County, WI

Garden cress is one of the fastest-growing edibles, producing peppery sprouts in as little as two weeks. It is excellent for microgreens and garnishes.

Chippewa County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 916 feet, Chippewa County receives approximately 40.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cress to ensure they mature before fall.

Chippewa County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Chippewa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Cress Planting Timeline — Chippewa County, WI

Cress Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 – May 29
Harvest May 29 May 29 – Jun 19
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 – Jul 20

Plant 0.5" deep · 2" apart · Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

14–21 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Chippewa County

Growing Tips for Chippewa County

Sow seeds thickly on moist soil or paper towels. Keep moist and harvest when 2-3 inches tall. Succession sow every few days for continuous supply. Grows well indoors year-round.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cress in Chippewa County, WI?

Chippewa County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Cress planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Chippewa County, WI?

Chippewa County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Chippewa County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Chippewa County (Zone 4b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Chippewa County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.