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When to plant in Hinsdale, IL

USDA Zone 6a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Hinsdale, Illinois — all computed from Hinsdale's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 6a, Hinsdale gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · LITTLE RED SCHOOL HSE · 11.1 km
Last spring frost
April 19
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 22
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
186 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for HinsdaleA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Hinsdale: last spring frost around April 19, first fall frost around October 22, about 186 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

LITTLE RED SCHOOL HSE · 1991–2020

The 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 Hinsdale’s own odds, recorded at LITTLE RED SCHOOL HSE.

Frost-probability curves for HinsdaleProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 186 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 18Apr 30Apr 16Sep 28Oct 12Oct 24
32°FMay 5Apr 19Apr 6Oct 8Oct 22Nov 3
28°FApr 22Apr 7Mar 26Oct 19Nov 1Nov 16

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 16July 30
Fall sowin 11 days
Broccoli
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Cabbage
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Carrot
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Cauliflower
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Napa Cabbage
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Beet
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Collards
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Endive
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Escarole
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Kale
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Kohlrabi
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Peas
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Radicchio
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Swiss Chard
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Turnip
August 13September 10

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Hinsdale, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 12 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

LITTLE RED SCHOOL HSE
Primary
11 km · 218 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 22
WHEATON 3 SE
12 km · 207 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 27
FALL
Oct 17
LISLE-MORTON ARBORETUM
12 km · 207 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 28
FALL
Oct 16

Hinsdale planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Hinsdale, IL?

On average, the last spring frost in Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale, IL?

Expect Hinsdale's first fall frost near October 22 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Hinsdale in?

Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale?

Hinsdale has about 186 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 19) and first fall frost (October 22).

When should I plant tomatoes in Hinsdale?

For Hinsdale, sow tomatoes indoors about February 22–March 8 and move the seedlings out around April 26, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Hinsdale

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hinsdale’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at LITTLE RED SCHOOL HSE, 11 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Hinsdale, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00115110. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/hinsdale.
When to Plant in Hinsdale, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden