Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Aurora, Illinois

Typical last spring frost April 28 (1 spring in 10 later than May 11). Typical first fall frost October 13 (1 fall in 10 earlier than September 27). Growing season about 166 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until April 14 and fades out by May 11. It is unlikely from then until September 27, and likely again after October 24. The dashed lines are the typical dates, April 28 and October 13.

Your season is too short for a separate fall planting of cabbage: sown late enough to be a fall crop, it wouldn't be ready before the typical first frost. Your spring planting is your harvest.

January

Nothing to start this month.

February

  • February 10 to March 10: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • February 24 to March 24: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 10 to 31: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • March 17 to 31: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • March 24 to April 7: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • March 31 to April 14: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • March 31 to April 14: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)

April

  • April 14 to 28: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • April 14 to 28: Cauliflower (plant out)
  • April 28: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)

May

  • May 12: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • May 12: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

June

  • June 7 to 21: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 17: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 21: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 22: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 26: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 27: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 31: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 10: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 20: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 30: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 27: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

October

  • October 30 to November 6: Garlic (plant cloves)

November

Nothing to start this month.

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Chicago Aurora Municipal Airport (station USW00004808), 10 miles from the center of Aurora. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/illinois/aurora/

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