When to Plant in Chicago, IL: Planting Calendar & Frost Dates
Quick answer
In Chicago (ZIP 60601), the median last spring frost is Apr 10 and the first fall frost is Nov 5. Start tomato seeds indoors Feb 13 – Feb 27 and transplant them Apr 17 – Apr 24; sow peas Feb 27 – Mar 13; plant garlic Oct 22 – Nov 26.
For ZIP 60601 in Chicago, the nearest NOAA weather station with freeze records is Chicago Northerly Island (NOAA name: Chicago Northerly Is, IL), 2.1 miles away. Its median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) is Apr 10 and its median first fall frost is Nov 5, leaving about 209 frost-free days. ZIP 60601 is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last frost here comes 16 days earlier than the zone 6 median (Apr 26), and the season is 33 days longer than the zone’s typical 176 days. Across Illinois’s 1,396 ZIP codes with frost dates, the median last frost is Apr 17, so Chicago’s comes 7 days earlier than that.
Station and dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F at 50% probability, for the station nearest the center of ZIP 60601. Zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM data by ZIP code). Outside Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia the planner uses the nearest NOAA station with freeze data, which can be at a different elevation from your yard.
Next 30 days in Chicago
See what to plant this month in the planner for ZIP 60601.
Key planting dates for Chicago
| Key date | When in Chicago | How it is counted |
|---|---|---|
| Sow peas | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | 4–6 weeks before last frost (Apr 10) |
| Start tomatoes indoors | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | 6–8 weeks before last frost (Apr 10) |
| Transplant tomatoes | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | 1–2 weeks after last frost (Apr 10) |
| Sow beans and squash | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | 1–2 weeks after last frost (Apr 10) |
| Sow fall lettuce | Sep 10 – Sep 24 | 6–8 weeks before first fall frost (Nov 5) |
| Plant garlic | Oct 22 – Nov 26 | 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) (Nov 5) |
| Plant tulip bulbs | Oct 22 – Dec 3 | 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) (Nov 5) |
Chicago vegetable and flower planting calendar
Every date range below is counted from Chicago’s median frost dates (Apr 10 and Nov 5) with the same rules as our planner, and rows run in calendar order. In about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date.
| Plant | Task | Dates (and how they are counted) | Expected harvest (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Start indoors | Jan 30 – Feb 138–10 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | Jan 30 – Feb 138–10 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Kale | Start indoors | Jan 30 – Feb 138–10 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Tomatoes | Start indoors | Feb 13 – Feb 276–8 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Peppers | Start indoors | Feb 13 – Feb 276–8 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | Feb 13 – Feb 276–8 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Peas | Direct sow | Feb 27 – Mar 134–6 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Apr 28 – Jun 160–80 days from seeding |
| Spinach | Direct sow | Feb 27 – Mar 134–6 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Apr 13 – May 1245–60 days from seeding |
| Basil | Start indoors | Feb 27 – Mar 134–6 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Radishes | Direct sow | Mar 6 – Mar 272–5 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Mar 26 – Apr 2620–30 days from seeding |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | Mar 13 – Mar 272–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | May 12 – Jun 1560–80 days from seeding |
| Onions (sets/transplants) | Plant sets/transplants | Mar 13 – Mar 272–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jun 6 – Jul 2585–120 days from planting |
| Broccoli | Transplant | Mar 13 – Mar 272–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | May 2 – Jun 550–70 days from transplanting |
| Cabbage | Transplant | Mar 13 – Mar 272–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | May 22 – Jun 2570–90 days from transplanting |
| Kale | Transplant | Mar 13 – Mar 272–4 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Marigolds | Start indoors | Mar 20 – Apr 100–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Zinnias | Start indoors | Mar 20 – Apr 100–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Potatoes | Plant seed potatoes | Mar 27 – Apr 31–2 weeks before last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jun 20 – Jul 2285–110 days from planting |
| Marigolds | Direct sow / transplant | Apr 10 – Apr 24from the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Zinnias | Direct sow / transplant | Apr 10 – Apr 24from the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) (avg. Apr 10) | — |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | Apr 17 – Apr 241–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jun 26 – Jul 2370–90 days from transplanting |
| Beans (bush & pole) | Direct sow | Apr 17 – Apr 241–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jun 1 – Jul 345–70 days from seeding |
| Sweet corn | Direct sow | Apr 17 – Apr 241–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jun 21 – Jul 2365–90 days from seeding |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow | Apr 17 – Apr 241–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | May 27 – Jun 2840–65 days from seeding |
| Squash | Direct sow | Apr 17 – Apr 241–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | May 27 – Jun 1340–50 days from seeding |
| Pumpkins | Direct sow | Apr 17 – May 11–3 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jul 6 – Aug 980–100 days from seeding |
| Basil | Transplant | Apr 17 – Apr 241–2 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | May 29 – Jun 542 days from transplanting |
| Peppers | Transplant | Apr 24 – May 12–3 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jun 28 – Jul 1565–75 days from transplanting |
| Eggplant | Transplant | Apr 24 – May 12–3 weeks after last frost (avg. Apr 10) | Jul 3 – Jul 3070–90 days from transplanting |
| Broccoli | Fall transplant | Aug 13 – Aug 2710–12 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Nov 5) | Oct 2 – Nov 550–70 days from transplanting |
| Cabbage | Fall transplant | Aug 13 – Aug 2710–12 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Nov 5) | Oct 22 – Nov 2570–90 days from transplanting |
| Kale | Fall sow | Aug 27 – Sep 108–10 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Nov 5) | Oct 16 – Nov 1950–70 days from seeding |
| Lettuce | Fall sow | Sep 10 – Sep 246–8 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Nov 5) | Nov 9 – Dec 1360–80 days from seeding |
| Spinach | Fall sow | Sep 17 – Oct 84–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) (avg. Nov 5) | Nov 1 – Dec 745–60 days from seeding |
| Radishes | Fall sow | Sep 24 – Oct 84–6 weeks before first fall frost (avg. Nov 5) | Oct 14 – Nov 720–30 days from seeding |
| Daffodils | Fall plant bulbs | Oct 8 – Nov 194 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) (avg. Nov 5) | — |
| Tulips | Fall plant bulbs | Oct 22 – Dec 32 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) (avg. Nov 5) | — |
| Garlic | Fall plant cloves | Oct 22 – Nov 262 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) (avg. Nov 5) | Jun 29 – Aug 23 (next year)250–270 days from planting |
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Harvest estimates add days to harvest from these sources to each planting window, and stop at the first fall frost for frost-tender crops: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Frost dates across Chicago’s ZIP codes
Across Chicago’s 56 ZIP codes, the median last spring frost ranges from Apr 10 to Apr 26 and the median first fall frost from Oct 21 to Nov 5, depending on which of 5 NOAA stations is nearest. This page uses ZIP 60601, which is in the group most Chicago ZIP codes share.
| Nearest NOAA station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Chicago ZIP codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Northerly Island (NOAA name: Chicago Northerly Is, IL) | Apr 10 | Nov 5 | 37: 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60608, 60609, 60610, 60611, 60612, 60613, 60614, 60615, 60616, 60617, 60618, 60619, 60621, 60622, 60624, 60625, 60637, 60639, 60640, 60641, 60642, 60647, 60649, 60651, 60653, 60654, 60657, 60659, 60660, 60661 |
| Chicago Midway Airport | Apr 11 | Oct 31 | 8: 60620, 60623, 60629, 60632, 60636, 60638, 60644, 60652 |
| Chicago O’Hare International Airport (NOAA name: Chicago Ohare Intl Airport, IL) | Apr 16 | Oct 28 | 5: 60630, 60631, 60634, 60646, 60656 |
| Chicago Midway Airport 3Sw | Apr 10 | Nov 1 | 4: 60628, 60633, 60643, 60655 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Apr 26 | Oct 21 | 2: 60626, 60645 |
Which ZIP codes count as Chicago: the 56 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (2020 ZCTAs) with at least half of their land area inside Chicago city limits, from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA to Place Relationship File. ZCTAs are the Census Bureau’s approximations of USPS ZIP Code areas, so this list may not match every USPS ZIP code. Each ZIP code’s dates are the ones our planner shows for it.
How Chicago compares
| Area | Median last spring frost | Median first fall frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ZIP 60601) | Apr 10 | Nov 5 | 209 |
| Illinois (median of 1,396 ZIP codes) | Apr 17 | Oct 21 | 187 |
| USDA zone 6 (median of 9,140 ZIP codes) | Apr 26 | Oct 19 | 176 |
How this table is built: each ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles); state and zone rows are medians across those ZIP codes. Zones are the 2023 USDA zones by ZIP code (PRISM).
More for Chicago gardeners
- Your own ZIP: open the planner for ZIP 60601 and change the ZIP to yours for its own station and dates.
- Illinois: When to plant in Illinois, with frost dates across the state.
- USDA zone 6b: our zone 6 planting guide.
- Frost tonight? How to protect plants from frost.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Chicago?
For ZIP 60601 in Chicago, the nearest NOAA 1991–2020 normals station (Chicago Northerly Island, 2.1 miles away) has a median last spring frost (32°F) of Apr 10. Across Chicago’s 56 ZIP codes it ranges from Apr 10 to Apr 26. In about half of years a frost still comes after that date, so tender plants are safer 1–2 weeks later.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chicago?
Start tomato seeds indoors Feb 13 – Feb 27 (6–8 weeks before the last frost) and transplant them outdoors Apr 17 – Apr 24 (1–2 weeks after it), once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State).
What is the first fall frost date in Chicago?
The median first fall frost (32°F) for ZIP 60601 is Nov 5, about 209 days after the last spring frost. Across Chicago’s ZIP codes it ranges from Oct 21 to Nov 5. Sow fall lettuce Sep 10 – Sep 24 and plant garlic Oct 22 – Nov 26.
What USDA zone is Chicago in?
ZIP 60601 in Chicago is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plant Hardiness Zone Map: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- UNH Extension: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden
- Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension: Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; FS1220: Spring Flowering Bulbs (Rutgers NJAES)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech): Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-331, Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide
- University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable Planting Calendar; Growing Potatoes in a Home Garden; Growing Onions in a Home Garden; Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; Growing Basil in a Home Garden
- University of Idaho Extension: CIS 1209
- South Dakota State University Extension: Planting Garlic; Harden Your Transplants Prior To Planting Your Garden
- University of Illinois Extension: Ready, Set, Garlic!
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing sweet corn in home gardens; Growing eggplant in home gardens
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR): Growing Peppers
- Colorado State University Extension: Growing tomatoes
- UF/IFAS Extension: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 ZCTA to Place Relationship File