When to plant in Lincolnwood, IL
USDA Zone 6aLincolnwood, Illinois frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
These dates come from a station roughly 16 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Lincolnwood (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. In zone 6a, Lincolnwood gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN · 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 Lincolnwood’s own odds, recorded at CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 26 | May 8 | Apr 24 | Sep 28 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 11 | Apr 26 | Apr 11 | Oct 5 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Mar 31 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
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 Lincolnwood, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Lincolnwood planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lincolnwood, IL?
Lincolnwood's average last spring frost falls near April 26 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Lincolnwood, IL?
Expect Lincolnwood's first fall frost near October 21 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Lincolnwood in?
Lincolnwood 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 Lincolnwood?
Lincolnwood has about 178 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 21).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lincolnwood?
For Lincolnwood, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lincolnwood
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lincolnwood’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Skokie · 3 km
- Evanston · 6 km
- Morton Grove · 6 km
- Niles · 7 km
- Wilmette · 8 km
- Norridge · 9 km
- Park Ridge · 9 km
- Winnetka · 11 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, 16 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 Lincolnwood, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00111497. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/lincolnwood.