Arlington Heights, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Arlington Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 26, giving about 190 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 26
- Frost-free season
- 190 days
Frost dates in Arlington Heights
Last spring frost
- April 4Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 190 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 5 and returns around November 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chicago Palwaukee Airport, 3.9 miles E of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Arlington Heights
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 16 in 60005 to April 19 in 60004. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Arlington Heights
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 20 to May 11 | — |
| Zinnias | May 19 to 26 | Jun 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 14 to Nov 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 14 to Oct 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Mount Prospect, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Palatine, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Des Plaines, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Schaumburg, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Hoffman Estates, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 26
- Skokie, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Arlington Heights
Questions
When is the last frost in Arlington Heights?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chicago Palwaukee Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 3.
What planting zone is Arlington Heights in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Arlington Heights?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Arlington Heights?
Around October 26 in a typical year, and before October 13 about 1 year in 10.