When to plant in Illinois
Most of Illinois sees its last spring frost between Apr 7 and Apr 27, and its first fall frost between Oct 15 and Oct 31. The middle of the state is around April 16 and October 22: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Illinois: 5b (29%), 6a (42%), 6b (17%), 7a (11%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 12 – Oct 4 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 1 | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 17 – Oct 9 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 27 – Aug 15 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 22 – Aug 31 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 3 – May 17 | Aug 6 – Sep 10 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 27 – Aug 8 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 4 – Jun 8 | Aug 2 – Aug 16 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 17 – Aug 14 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 3 – Jun 14 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 14 – May 26 | Sep 12 – Sep 26 |
| Kale | Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 13 – Aug 5 | Sep 11 – Sep 25 |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 25 – Jun 29 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 |
| Cabbage | Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 28 – Jul 2 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 4 – Jul 16 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Beet | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 20 – Jul 1 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Radish | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Apr 6 – May 4 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Jun 20 – Jul 25 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 15 – Nov 5 (fall) | Jun 11 – Jul 2 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 24 – Jul 29 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 26 | May 7 – May 21 | Aug 15 – Sep 12 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 7 – May 21 | Jul 31 – Sep 4 | — |
| Basil | Mar 22 | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 2 – Sep 8 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 14 – Jun 11 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 22 – Aug 26 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Illinois. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Illinois
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 6a | Apr 10 | Nov 1 |
| Springfield | 6a | Apr 15 | Oct 22 |
| Peoria | 6a | Apr 16 | Oct 23 |
| Rockford | 5b | Apr 24 | Oct 17 |
| Schaumburg | 5b | Apr 30 | Oct 13 |
| Aurora | 5b | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Bloomington | 6a | Apr 25 | Oct 16 |
| East Saint Louis | 7a | Apr 8 | Oct 26 |
| Palatine | 5b | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Carol Stream | 5b | Apr 28 | Oct 16 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.