Illinois frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 1 cities in Illinois, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Apr 10 | Apr 25 | Nov 5 | 208 |
Planting calendar for Chicago
The largest city we cover in Illinois. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Apr 10
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 25. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 5
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 24. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
208
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 208 days. Station: Chicago Northerly Is, IL, 7 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 25 – May 9
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 14
- Start indoors
- Feb 14 – Feb 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 25 – May 9
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 25 – May 9
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 25
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Feb 28
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 25
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 28
- Start indoors
- Feb 28 – Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Apr 11
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Apr 11
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 14
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 28
- Start indoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – May 2
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 28
- Start indoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – May 2
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 28
- Start indoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- May 2 – May 9
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 28
- Start indoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Transplant outdoors
- May 2 – May 9
- Sow outdoors
- May 2 – May 9
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 28
- Start indoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- May 2 – May 9
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 25
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 28
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 11
April
The next window opens in April.
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
- Sow for fall
- Aug 1 – Aug 15
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 25
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 25
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 25 – Apr 25
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 12
- Sow for fall
- Sep 12 – Sep 12
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.