When to plant in Fox Lake, IL
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Fox Lake, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 5b means Fox Lake 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 Fox Lake is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ANTIOCH · 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 Fox Lake’s own odds, recorded at ANTIOCH.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 5 | Apr 21 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 11 | Mar 30 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 Fox Lake, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 14 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.
Fox Lake planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fox Lake, IL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Fox Lake around April 23 (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 Fox Lake, IL?
In Fox Lake, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 21 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fox Lake in?
Fox Lake 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 Fox Lake?
There are roughly 181 frost-free days in Fox Lake (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 23 to the first fall frost near October 21.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fox Lake?
In Fox Lake, start tomato seeds indoors around February 26–March 12, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fox Lake
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fox Lake’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Round Lake Beach · 10 km
- Antioch · 11 km
- Round Lake · 12 km
- Salem Lakes · 13 km
- Lindenhurst · 13 km
- McHenry · 14 km
- Grayslake · 16 km
- Wauconda · 17 km
Frost dates recorded at ANTIOCH, 9 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 Fox Lake, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00110203. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/fox-lake.