Evanston, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Evanston is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 176 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 26
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 176 days
Frost dates in Evanston
Last spring frost
- April 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 2Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 176 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 13 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chicago Botanic Garden, 7.6 miles NW 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 Evanston
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: 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, eggplants, okra, peppers, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, 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, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
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, green onions, 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, 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, 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 Evanston
All 2 of Evanston's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Chicago Botanic Garden, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60201 | 6a | Chicago Botanic Garden, 7.6 mi NW | Apr 26 | Oct 21 |
| 60202 | 6a | Chicago Botanic Garden, 9.2 mi NW | Apr 26 | Oct 21 |
Chicago Botanic Garden also supplies the frost dates for Skokie, so their planting calendars match Evanston's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Evanston
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Basil | Apr 4 to 18 | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Jan 4 to Feb 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 7 to Apr 4 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 23 to Jun 6 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | May 25 to Jun 1 | Jun 22 to Jul 6 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Skokie, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Des Plaines, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Oak Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Mount Prospect, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Cicero, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Chicago, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Evanston
Questions
When is the last frost in Evanston?
Around April 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chicago Botanic Garden. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Evanston 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 Evanston?
Start seeds indoors March 28 to April 11 and set plants out May 23 to June 6.
When is the first frost in Evanston?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 5 about 1 year in 10.