When to plant in Galesburg, IL
USDA Zone 5bGalesburg, Illinois frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5b means Galesburg 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 Galesburg is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
GALESBURG · 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 Galesburg’s own odds, recorded at GALESBURG.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | Apr 30 | Apr 17 | Sep 25 | Oct 9 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | May 5 | Apr 20 | Apr 6 | Oct 4 | Oct 19 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 10 | Mar 28 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 | Nov 8 |
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 Galesburg, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Galesburg planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Galesburg, IL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Galesburg around April 20 (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 Galesburg, IL?
The first fall frost in Galesburg typically arrives around October 19 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Galesburg in?
Galesburg 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 Galesburg?
There are roughly 182 frost-free days in Galesburg (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 20 to the first fall frost near October 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Galesburg?
In Galesburg, start tomato seeds indoors around February 23–March 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Galesburg
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Galesburg’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Kewanee · 50 km
- Canton · 52 km
- Macomb · 59 km
- Moline · 60 km
- Rock Island · 60 km
- East Moline · 63 km
- Burlington · 65 km
- Peoria · 68 km
Frost dates recorded at GALESBURG, 1 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 Galesburg, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00113320. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/galesburg.