General info

The production of horticultural crops for sale and many enterprises closely related to these activities constitute important aspects of Wisconsin's agriculture. Fruits, flowers, vegetables and woody ornamentals are grown extensively in the state. Vegetable crops for canning are the largest segment of the horticultural industry.

Wisconsin's climate is a typical north temperature continental climate exhibiting wide extremes of summer and winter temperatures. Lakes Superior and Michigan and the Mississippi River modify conditions in areas adjacent to them and provide restricted regions for specialized horticultural development, particularly tree fruits.

Much of Wisconsin's topography is gently rolling. The soils range from extensive muck and peat areas in the central and southeastern parts of the state to sand areas in the central, northeast and northwest areas. Along the shores of Lake Superior and Michigan are large areas of red clay that are generally unsuited for horticultural crops. The Door Peninsula in northeast Wisconsin is limestone derived.

Horticultural production is centred in areas uniquely favoured by soil, climate or markets. Cranberries are located in the marsh areas of central and northern Wisconsin, which is the only state in this group that produces them commercially. Tree fruits are concentrated in the Door Peninsula, southeastern counties near Lake Michigan, Mississippi River Valley and the Bayfield Peninsula on Lake Superior. Canning crops are extensively grown in the southern and eastern section of the state with extensive acreage of potatoes, green beans and cucumbers in the central sand plain. Ornamental crops are produced near large urban centers with a few scattered nurseries in other areas. Temperate zone fruit production began in the middle of the 19th century as farm orchards. Large commercial plantings occurred early in the 20th century. The first cranberry bogs were developed in the 1870's and new ones are still being developed. Canning crops production started after the turn of the century and has continued to flourish to the present.

Organisations / Institutes:
Wisconsin CropMAP
University of Wisconsin Madison
Cooperative Extension
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Departments and Programs
Agricultural Research Stations
The Arboretum
Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service
Boerner Botanical Gardnes
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory

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