Waukegan, Illinois planting calendar and frost dates
Waukegan is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 173 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 30
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 173 days
Frost dates in Waukegan
Last spring frost
- April 14Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 16Safe: 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 173 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 16 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport, 4.3 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 Waukegan
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
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, 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, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, 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, okra, 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 Waukegan
All 4 of Waukegan's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 5b in 60083, and 6a in 60048, 60085, 60087.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60048 | 6a | Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport, 9.5 mi NNE | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
| 60083 | 5b | Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport, 4.5 mi ESE | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
| 60085 | 6a | Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport, 4.3 mi N | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
| 60087 | 6a | Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport, 1.1 mi NW | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Waukegan
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 2 to 16 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Basil | Apr 9 to 23 | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Jan 8 to Feb 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 12 to Apr 9 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 1 to 8 | Jun 29 to Jul 13 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Kenosha, WI zone 5b, last frost Apr 28
- Palatine, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Arlington Heights, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Mount Prospect, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Des Plaines, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Skokie, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
Planting in IllinoisAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Waukegan
Questions
When is the last frost in Waukegan?
Around April 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 16.
What planting zone is Waukegan in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Waukegan?
Start seeds indoors April 2 to 16 and set plants out May 28 to June 11.
When is the first frost in Waukegan?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 5 about 1 year in 10.