Cicero, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Cicero is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 11 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 201 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 11
- Typical first frost
- October 31
- Frost-free season
- 201 days
Frost dates in Cicero
Last spring frost
- March 30Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 11Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 31Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 201 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 1 and returns around November 11.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chicago Midway Airport, 6.9 miles SW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Cicero shares this station with Chicago, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Cicero
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Planting dates for popular crops in Cicero
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Cilantro | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Onions | Dec 20 to Jan 31 | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 14 to May 5 | — |
| Zinnias | May 13 to 20 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 19 to Nov 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 19 to Oct 31 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
Nearby cities
- Berwyn, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Oak Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Chicago, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Oak Lawn, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 10
- Skokie, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Downers Grove, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Cicero
Questions
When is the last frost in Cicero?
Around April 11 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chicago Midway Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 27.
What planting zone is Cicero in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cicero?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Cicero?
Around October 31 in a typical year, and before October 20 about 1 year in 10.