Your Guide to Spring Gardening in Milwaukee
Things are heating up. For the first time in over a decade, the USDA has updated its Plant Hardiness Zone map – a diagram indicating which perennial plants are likely to survive and thrive through winter. Milwaukee’s been bumped up by half a zone – from 5b to 6a – which means its average lowest winter temperature has moved from minus-15 degrees Fahrenheit to minus-10. This now places the city in the same zone as central Illinois and northern Kentucky.
So, why the change? It’s based on 30 years of data documenting Milwaukee’s extended fall periods, frequent bouts of drought and milder winter conditions – all things that local gardeners have noticed through the years. A new map may inspire major changes, but gardeners shouldn’t shake up their entire landscaping strategy, says Vijai Pandian, horticulture educator for the UW-Extension campuses in Kenosha and Racine counties.
“Gardeners still need to be cautious when planning,” he says. “I would suggest testing a few plants in a protected area of your landscaping, and give it a few years to see how it does.” Extension horticulture educator Kristin Krokowski suggests trying plants from families on the edge of what already grows well in Wisconsin, such as peach or Japanese maple trees.
The hardiness map documents winter extremes, but the zone change also affects spring and fall planting. “It’s going to be positive for vegetables and seasonal plants because of the extended growing season,” Pandian says. “Longer falls and milder winters mean you could have success planting warm season crops earlier or growing cool season crops into December.” No matter what you grow, Milwaukee’s climate is changing, and keeping track in a journal of subtle changes you see in your crops over the years can help you mitigate a (slightly) warmer Wisconsin.
MATC Seed Library
For seven years, the librarians at MATC have maintained a public seed library – a collection of over 200 fruits, vegetables, herbs and more. Campus reference librarian Stacy Mose helped over 600 “seed stewards” inexpensively create or maintain their home garden last year.
Here’s how the library works: In the spring (or fall), you “borrow” seeds. Then, when you grow the resulting crop, you harvest some of its seeds and return them to the library to be repackaged for the next season.
The MATC Seed Library comes with some quality assurance – when patrons return the seeds, horticulture students test them for viability before putting them back into rotation. Seed donors can even name crops they’ve cultivated, like Walt’s dill, a popular herb at the library. “Season to season, the seed library creates an incredible sense of community,” Mose says.
Wisconsin Heirloom Plants
Did you know Wisconsin has a plethora of heirloom plants? Here are a few state-specific fruit and veggie strains that have been safeguarded by generations.
Sheboygan Tomato
This tomato was first grown by Lithuanian immigrants in the early 1900s. The medium-sized fruit balances sweet and acidic notes and is often used for sauces.
Pride of Wisconsin Melon
This ribbed melon introduced in the 1930s was crossbred using two popular melon varieties. The sweet and juicy flavor is beloved across the Midwest.
Beaver Dam Pepper
This mild-to-hot pepper was brought to Beaver Dam in 1912. Now, the town commemorates the crop at its annual Beaver Dam Pepper Festival.
Milwaukee Apple
A Milwaukee farmer originated this cold-hardy crop commercially grown in the early 1900s. The red and green marbled fruit is often used in baking.
