When to plant in Elgin, IL
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Elgin, Illinois — all computed from Elgin's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5b, Elgin gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
ELGIN · 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 Elgin’s own odds, recorded at ELGIN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 24 | May 6 | Apr 22 | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Oct 3 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 15 | Oct 29 | 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 Elgin, 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.
Elgin planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Elgin, IL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Elgin around April 26 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Elgin, IL?
In Elgin, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 18 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Elgin in?
Elgin 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 Elgin?
Elgin has about 175 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Elgin?
For Elgin, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Elgin
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Elgin’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- South Elgin · 5 km
- Carpentersville · 10 km
- Pingree Grove · 10 km
- Streamwood · 12 km
- Campton Hills · 12 km
- St. Charles · 13 km
- Algonquin · 13 km
- Bartlett · 15 km
Frost dates recorded at ELGIN, 4 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 Elgin, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00112736. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/elgin.