When to plant in Barrington, IL
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Barrington, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 5b means Barrington sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Barrington is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BARRINGTON 3SW · 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 Barrington’s own odds, recorded at BARRINGTON 3SW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 25 | May 6 | Apr 22 | Sep 27 | Oct 11 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 25 | Apr 10 | Oct 5 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 12 | Mar 31 | Oct 15 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
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 Barrington, 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.
Barrington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Barrington, IL?
On average, the last spring frost in Barrington is around April 25 (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 Barrington, IL?
In Barrington, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 19 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Barrington in?
Barrington is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Barrington?
There are roughly 177 frost-free days in Barrington (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 25 to the first fall frost near October 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Barrington?
In Barrington, start tomato seeds indoors around February 28–March 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Barrington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Barrington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lake Zurich · 6 km
- Palatine · 8 km
- Hoffman Estates · 10 km
- Cary · 12 km
- Rolling Meadows · 12 km
- Arlington Heights · 14 km
- Buffalo Grove · 14 km
- Wauconda · 14 km
Frost dates recorded at BARRINGTON 3SW, 5 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 Barrington, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00110442. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/barrington.