Last spring freeze
Apr 10
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Mar 29 – Apr 25
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 25.
Chicago, IL · NOAA frost dates
Chicago frost dates & planting calendar
Last spring freeze ~Apr 10, first fall freeze ~Nov 5: a median of 209 frost-free days. The calendar below is already set to Chicago (ZIP 60601). Type your own ZIP for the station nearest you.
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Chicago, IL · ZIP 60601 · try yours
Chicago IL area
Last spring frost
~Apr 10
safer: Apr 25
First fall frost
~Nov 5
safer: Oct 24
Growing season
209
frost-free days
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall planting
- Harvest
Median dates from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Averages, not forecasts. How it works
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals
Chicago frost dates at a glance
32°F freeze dates for the Chicago Northerly Is, IL weather station, 3 km from ZIP 60601, 178 m up.
First fall freeze
Nov 5
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Oct 24 – Nov 20
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 24.
Growing season
209
median frost-free days
USDA zone 6b
Station: Chicago Northerly Is, IL
Long-term averages, not a forecast. Your yard can run one to three weeks off these dates, so check the 10-day forecast before planting out.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F freeze probabilities: 10%, 50%, 90%). Public domain. How we use it
Planting dates for Chicago
When to plant in Chicago
Worked out from the median frost dates (and, for warm-season crops, NOAA’s normal night lows) with the same crop rules as the calendar below. Tap any crop there for its dates.
-
Tomatoes
- Start indoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 28
- Transplant out
- May 16 – Jun 6
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 17, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about May 16, so they go out then, started indoors 9 weeks before. Transplant when nights stay above 50°F (10°C).
-
Peppers
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Transplant out
- May 16 – May 30
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 24, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about May 16, so they go out then, started indoors 12 weeks before. Loves warm soil, 65°F+ (18°C+).
-
Peas
- Sow outside
- Feb 27 – Mar 20
- Fall sowing
- Aug 27 – Sep 10
3–6 weeks before the last frost, and again 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Sow as soon as soil can be worked (40°F/4°C+).
-
Lettuce
- Sow outside
- Mar 13 – Apr 24
- Fall sowing
- Sep 10 – Oct 8
From 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost, and 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Bolts in heat; sow small batches often.
-
Garlic
- Plant cloves
- Oct 22 – Nov 26
- Harvest
- Jun 12 – Jul 3, next year
2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves in fall; harvest next summer when lower leaves brown.
This week
Right now in your garden
Full year
Your planting calendar
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall sowing / planting
- Harvest
- Harvest the season after planting
- Est. frost date
No crops match. Try another search, or clear “My picks”.
Tap ☆ to add a crop to your picks. Tap a crop name for exact dates and growing notes. Your picks and location are saved on this device.
Straight answers
Frost questions
When is the last frost in Chicago?
The median last spring freeze (32°F) at NOAA’s Chicago Northerly Is, IL station is Apr 10, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Mar 29 and Apr 25, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 25.
When is the first fall frost in Chicago?
The median first fall freeze (32°F) is Nov 5. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Oct 24 and Nov 20, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 24. That leaves a median of 209 frost-free days.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chicago?
Using FrostLine’s crop rules with the median last frost of Apr 10 and NOAA’s normal night lows: start tomato seeds indoors Mar 14 – Mar 28 and transplant them outside May 16 – Jun 6. Frost alone would allow Apr 17, but nights here only average 50°F (10°C) from about May 16.
Are these dates a forecast?
No. They are long-term averages, not a forecast for this year. Your own garden can differ by one to three weeks with elevation, slope, wind and how built-up it is. Check the 10-day forecast before setting out tender plants, and enter your own ZIP for the nearest station.
How it works: each ZIP is matched to the nearest NOAA station with freeze records. More on our method.
Frost dates by city
More frost dates by city
Each page opens the same free calendar, set to that city. Or start from the home page.
- CO · zone 6a Denver Last frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 12 165 frost-free days
- WA · zone 9a Seattle Last frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 17 249 frost-free days
- GA · zone 8a Atlanta Last frost ~Mar 24First frost ~Nov 8 229 frost-free days
- TX · zone 8a Dallas Last frost ~Mar 2First frost ~Nov 29 272 frost-free days
- MN · zone 4b Minneapolis Last frost ~Apr 23First frost ~Oct 16 176 frost-free days
- OR · zone 8b Portland Last frost ~Feb 25First frost ~Dec 1 279 frost-free days
- MA · zone 7a Boston Last frost ~Apr 4First frost ~Nov 9 219 frost-free days
- TN · zone 7a Nashville Last frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Oct 31 213 frost-free days
- UT · zone 7a Salt Lake City Last frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 8 222 frost-free days