Frost dates & planting calendar for Chicago, IL
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.
6a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: −10 to −5°F (−23.3 to −20.6°C).
Zone for ZIP 60608, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 6a means.
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).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 28 to Mar 14, then plant them out from Apr 25 to May 9.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 25 in spring, Oct 24 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
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.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Chicago?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Chicago is Apr 10. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 25.
- When is the first frost in Chicago?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 5. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 24.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Chicago?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 28 and Mar 14, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Chicago in?
- Chicago is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 60608, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Milwaukee, WI 138 km
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