When to plant in Arlington Heights, IL
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Arlington Heights, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Arlington Heights gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average last spring frost in Arlington Heights is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CHICAGO PALWAUKEE AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Arlington Heights’s own odds, recorded at CHICAGO PALWAUKEE AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | May 3 | Apr 19 | Apr 4 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 20 | Apr 5 | Mar 22 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 21 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Arlington Heights, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Arlington Heights planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Arlington Heights, IL?
On average, the last spring frost in Arlington Heights is around April 19 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Arlington Heights, IL?
The first fall frost in Arlington Heights typically arrives around October 26 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Arlington Heights in?
Arlington Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Arlington Heights?
Arlington Heights has about 190 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 19) and first fall frost (October 26).
When should I plant tomatoes in Arlington Heights?
For Arlington Heights, sow tomatoes indoors about February 22–March 8 and move the seedlings out around April 26, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Arlington Heights
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Arlington Heights’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rolling Meadows · 4 km
- Prospect Heights · 4 km
- Mount Prospect · 5 km
- Palatine · 6 km
- Wheeling · 6 km
- Buffalo Grove · 8 km
- Des Plaines · 10 km
- Elk Grove Village · 10 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICAGO PALWAUKEE AP, 7 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Arlington Heights, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00004838. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/arlington-heights.