What zone is Illinois for planting?
Southern Illinois is in Zones 6a-7a. Central Illinois is in Zones 5a-6a. Northern Illinois is in Zones 5a-5b.
Chicago, Illinois is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and Zone 6. Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important for getting the most out of your garden.
| Illinois | |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | IL |
| ISO 3166 code | US-IL |
| Vegetable | Hardiness | Recommended planting period for central Illinois (b) |
|---|---|---|
| Squash, summer | Very Tender | May 10-June 15 |
| Squash, winter | Very Tender | May 20-June 1 |
| Sweet potato | Very Tender | May 10-June 1 |
| Tomato | Very Tender | May 10-June 1 |
Each zone represents a range of the coldest average annual temperature for that area. Chicago falls into zone 5, with a low average temperature of -20°F to -10°F.
Illinois is in the Central Time Zone in the United States of America (USA). US Central Standard Time (CST) is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT-6 ).
USDA Zone 7
The zone includes Long Island, coastal New Jersey, eastern Maryland, most of Virginia and North Carolina, western South Carolina, southern Tennessee, the northern halves of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi and much of Arkansas.
The Zone 9 map includes the following states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
In most cases, the best time to start seeds is approximately six weeks prior to the last frost date. In both Bloomingdale and Carpentersville, that lands somewhere around May 21-31 every year.
Examples: carrots, kale, turnips, and radishes. Warm-Season Vegetables: These crops do not grow well in lower temperatures and must be planted well after the average last frost date. Examples: tomatoes, squash, and peppers.
What can I plant in April in Illinois?
Plant small transplants of asparagus, early potatoes, lettuce, radish, mustard, onions, peas, rhubarb, spinach, turnips, cauliflower, carrots, and all other cool-season crops as weather permits. Plant midseason potatoes in mid-April. Plant strawberries and pinch off first-year flowers to develop strong root systems.
Chicago is in the USDA Zone 6a, which means that the growing season is generally from late April until early October. But don't wait until the last week of April to begin! To ensure the longest growing season, you'll need to start in March. Check your seed packets to determine exactly when to plant each vegetable.
Naperville, Illinois is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 5.
General Garden Care
Plant warm-season flowering annuals, vines, herbs, and vegetables after the Chicago area's average last frost date of May 15. Cautious gardeners often wait until Memorial Day before setting out cold-sensitive plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash.
Chicago is in the USDA Zone 6a, which means that the growing season is generally from late April until early October. But don't wait until the last week of April to begin! To ensure the longest growing season, you'll need to start in March. Check your seed packets to determine exactly when to plant each vegetable.
Naperville, Illinois is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 5.
General Garden Care
Plant warm-season flowering annuals, vines, herbs, and vegetables after the Chicago area's average last frost date of May 15. Cautious gardeners often wait until Memorial Day before setting out cold-sensitive plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash.
USDA growing zones range from 1 to 13, but the continental US only ranges from 3 to 10.
