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When to plant seeds in SE Wisconsin?

I used to live in a different part of the states, so I'm not sure when I should start my seeds indoors so they are ready to transplant when the weather is best. I live in Southeast Wisconsin. We can have freak snow storms in April, out of the blue. I bought the seeds, starter soil, and growing tray. I'm looking to plant some tomatoes (roma and cherry), sugar snap peas, zucchini, and swiss chard. They're going to be transplanted into 5+ gallon pots (alas, I can't have a real garden, just a container garden). I want them to be strong and healthy when they go outside, but don't want them to stay indoors for too long. I have a sunny window for them, but sunlight through glass =/= sunlight outdoors. Its still March, but I can't wait until I have a producing 'garden' again. There is nothing like a delicious cherry tomato fresh off the vine and still warm from the sun.

Public Comments

1. I live in North Central Illinois. Almost all seeds can be started inside 6 - 8 weeks before outside planting. Our "safe" date to plant is usually about May 10 - 15. After about May 5th, you will want to put your plants outside in the shade, protected from the wind (on your patio or deck) for a few days to "harden" them off. Bring them in at night and put them out the next day. Do this for several days before you leave them out for good. Plant your seeds now, they will be ready to go outside at just the right time. Start them in small cell packs, then transplant them to the big pots after hardening off. Good luck, happy planting.
2. I'm thinking of that myself and have decided to get some tom's going and put them in one of those upside-down planters to see how that works so i can have toms all the time and there are other plants I can do the same with but, I plan on having a little green house because of birds and squirrels out here in the woods of Florida. But he told you right about the time line for that planting because I was raised outside of Kenosha Wisconsin. But it would be a good idea to get the soil ready for the planting. Hope you like it there.