Oak Lawn, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Oak Lawn is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 10 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 203 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 10
- Typical first frost
- November 1
- Frost-free season
- 203 days
Frost dates in Oak Lawn
Last spring frost
- March 30Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 16Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 203 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 3sw, 2 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. Oak Lawn shares this station with Orland Park, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Oak Lawn
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 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, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Planting dates for popular crops in Oak Lawn
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 to 30 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Cilantro | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Nov 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Dec 19 to Jan 30 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| 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 | — | Mar 20 to Apr 10 | Aug 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 6 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 23 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 14 to May 5 | — |
| Zinnias | May 12 to 19 | Jun 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
Nearby cities
- Cicero, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Orland Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 10
- Berwyn, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Chicago, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Tinley Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 23
- Oak Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Oak Lawn
Questions
When is the last frost in Oak Lawn?
Around April 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chicago Midway Airport 3sw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 26.
What planting zone is Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn?
Start seeds indoors March 16 to 30 and set plants out May 11 to 25.
When is the first frost in Oak Lawn?
Around November 1 in a typical year, and before October 21 about 1 year in 10.