Normal, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Normal is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 25 and the first fall frost around October 16, giving about 172 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 25
- Typical first frost
- October 16
- Frost-free season
- 172 days
Frost dates in Normal
Last spring frost
- April 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 16Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 29Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 172 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 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Normal 4ne, 1.5 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. Normal shares this station with Bloomington, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Normal
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, 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, 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, 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, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, 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, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, 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, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Normal
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 to 30 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 17 to Aug 21 |
| Cilantro | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Basil | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Oct 16 to 30 |
| Onions | Jan 3 to Feb 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 23 to Mar 23 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 4 to 25 | Jul 24 to Aug 14 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 6 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 25 to May 9 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 7 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Peas | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Jul 24 to Aug 7 |
| Spinach | Mar 14 to 21 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 7 to Sep 11 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 25 to May 16 | — |
| Zinnias | May 12 to 19 | Jun 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 4 to Oct 30 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 4 to Oct 16 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Sep 4 to 18 |
Nearby cities
- Bloomington, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 25
- Peoria, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Decatur, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 14
- Champaign, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Springfield, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 14
- Joliet, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Normal
Questions
When is the last frost in Normal?
Around April 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Normal 4ne. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Normal 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 Normal?
Start seeds indoors March 16 to 30 and set plants out May 11 to 25.
When is the first frost in Normal?
Around October 16 in a typical year, and before October 2 about 1 year in 10.