When to plant in Kewanee, IL
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Kewanee, Illinois — all computed from Kewanee's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5b, Kewanee gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Kewanee is now 8 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
KEWANEE 1 E · 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 Kewanee’s own odds, recorded at KEWANEE 1 E.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 4 | Apr 21 | Sep 23 | Oct 6 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 24 | Apr 10 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | Apr 13 | Mar 31 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
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 Kewanee, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Kewanee planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Kewanee, IL?
On average, the last spring frost in Kewanee is around April 24 (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 Kewanee, IL?
Expect Kewanee's first fall frost near October 17 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Kewanee in?
Kewanee 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 Kewanee?
Kewanee has about 176 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 17).
When should I plant tomatoes in Kewanee?
For Kewanee, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Kewanee
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Kewanee’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Galesburg · 50 km
- East Moline · 50 km
- Moline · 55 km
- Bettendorf · 59 km
- Peoria · 60 km
- Rock Island · 61 km
- Sterling · 65 km
- Davenport · 67 km
Frost dates recorded at KEWANEE 1 E, 2 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 Kewanee, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00114710. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/kewanee.