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When to Plant Zucchini in Price County, WI

Price County, Wisconsin Zone 4a April

Your April planting checklist for Price County, Wisconsin

Each item below is timed to Price County, Wisconsin's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 17
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 34°F
Watering None
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Direct-sowing: zucchini

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Zucchini is an incredibly prolific summer squash that can produce an abundance of fruit from just a few plants. It is versatile in the kitchen from grilling to baking.

Price County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 135 days.

At an elevation of 1,325 feet, Price County receives approximately 41.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Zucchini to ensure they mature before fall.

Price County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
135 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
135 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Price County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (9 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: Jun 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: Jun 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 8 – Oct 3

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Price County

How your county's soil matches Zucchini's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–7.3) overlaps with Zucchini's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Price County is excellent for Zucchini — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Zucchini will thrive.

How to Plant Zucchini

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Zucchini

3
successive plantings in your 135-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 31 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Zucchini

Zucchini needs approximately 1.2 inches of water per week (5.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Zucchini Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 5.2" 5.1" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 5.2" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 5.2" 4.2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 5.2" 4.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 5.2" 3.6" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Price County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Zucchini Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Zucchini needs ~525 GDD — county provides 1,350 GDD Excellent fit

Zucchini Planting Timeline — Price County, WI

Zucchini Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors June 7 Jun 7 – Jun 21
Direct Sow May 31 May 31 – Jun 21
Harvest July 26 Jul 26 – Sep 20

Plant 1" deep · 30" apart · Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.2"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

135 days in Price County

Growing Tips for Zucchini in Price County

Direct sow Zucchini outdoors after May 17 in Price County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Zucchini in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost. Harvest when fruits are 6-8 inches long for best flavor and texture. Check plants daily in summer as fruits can double in size overnight.

Recommended Zucchini Varieties for Price County

Quick-producing varieties for shorter seasons

Black Beauty (50d) Raven (48d) Eight Ball (40d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Zucchini in Price County, WI?

Price County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Zucchini planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Price County, WI?

Price County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 29.

🌱

Your Price County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Price County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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

Sources & credits

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