Elgin, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Elgin is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 18, giving about 174 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- April 26
- Typical first frost
- October 18
- Frost-free season
- 174 days
Frost dates in Elgin
Last spring frost
- April 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 18Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 31Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 174 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 14 and returns around October 29.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elgin, 1.8 miles N 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 Elgin
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, 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, collard greens, 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, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, 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, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, 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, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Elgin
All 4 of Elgin's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Elgin, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60120 | 5b | Elgin, 1.8 mi N | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| 60123 | 5b | Elgin, 1.8 mi N | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| 60124 | 5b | Elgin, 1.8 mi N | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| 60140 | 5b | Elgin, 1.8 mi N | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
Elgin also supplies the frost dates for Hoffman Estates, so their planting calendars match Elgin's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Elgin
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 19 to Aug 23 |
| Cilantro | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Onions | Jan 4 to Feb 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| 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 | — | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Spinach | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | May 21 to 28 | Jun 18 to Jul 2 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 6 to Nov 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 6 to Oct 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Hoffman Estates, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 26
- Schaumburg, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Palatine, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Wheaton, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 27
- Arlington Heights, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Aurora, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Elgin
Questions
When is the last frost in Elgin?
Around April 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Elgin. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.
What planting zone is Elgin in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Elgin?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Elgin?
Around October 18 in a typical year, and before October 3 about 1 year in 10.