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When to Plant Cranberries in Jackson County, WI

Cranberries are low-growing, vine-like shrubs that produce tart red berries in fall. They grow in acidic, boggy conditions and are surprisingly easy to cultivate.

Jackson County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 608 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 35.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cranberries to ensure they mature before fall.

Jackson County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
142 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Cranberries Planting Timeline — Jackson County, WI

Cranberries Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 10 Jun 10 – Jun 24

· 36" apart · Rows 48" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June Transplant Outdoors
July
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

High — keep soil consistently moist

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1095 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 4–5.5 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Jackson County

Create an acidic, consistently moist bed with peat moss. Cranberries do not need to be flooded to grow; flooding is only used for commercial harvesting. Mulch with sand in early spring.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cranberries in Jackson County, WI?

Jackson County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Cranberries planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, WI?

Jackson County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Jackson County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Jackson 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 Jackson County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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