When to plant in Lake in the Hills, IL
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Lake in the Hills, Illinois — all computed from Lake in the Hills's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Lake in the Hills sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
CRYSTAL LAKE 4NW · 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 Lake in the Hills’s own odds, recorded at CRYSTAL LAKE 4NW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 5 | Apr 23 | Sep 25 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Oct 7 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 12 | Mar 31 | Oct 20 | 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 Lake in the Hills, 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.
Lake in the Hills planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lake in the Hills, IL?
On average, the last spring frost in Lake in the Hills is around April 25 (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 Lake in the Hills, IL?
Expect Lake in the Hills'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 Lake in the Hills in?
Lake in the Hills 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 Lake in the Hills?
There are roughly 180 frost-free days in Lake in the Hills (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 25 to the first fall frost near October 22.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lake in the Hills?
In Lake in the Hills, start tomato seeds indoors around February 28–March 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Lake in the Hills
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lake in the Hills’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Algonquin · 2 km
- Crystal Lake · 6 km
- Cary · 7 km
- Carpentersville · 7 km
- Huntley · 10 km
- Pingree Grove · 14 km
- Elgin · 16 km
- Barrington · 16 km
Frost dates recorded at CRYSTAL LAKE 4NW, 11 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 Lake in the Hills, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00112048. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/lake-in-the-hills.