When to plant in Mattoon, IL
USDA Zone 6aMattoon, Illinois frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 6a, Mattoon gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
MATTOON · 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 Mattoon’s own odds, recorded at MATTOON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 9 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Oct 2 | Oct 19 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Apr 28 | Apr 11 | Mar 31 | Oct 15 | Oct 29 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | Apr 2 | Mar 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 7 | Nov 21 |
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 Mattoon, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 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.
Mattoon planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Mattoon, IL?
Mattoon's average last spring frost falls near April 11 — 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 Mattoon, IL?
The first fall frost in Mattoon typically arrives around October 29 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Mattoon in?
Mattoon 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 Mattoon?
Mattoon has about 201 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 11) and first fall frost (October 29).
When should I plant tomatoes in Mattoon?
For Mattoon, sow tomatoes indoors about February 14–February 28 and move the seedlings out around April 18, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Mattoon
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Mattoon’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Charleston · 16 km
- Effingham · 43 km
- Decatur · 65 km
- Champaign · 71 km
- Urbana · 72 km
- Mahomet · 79 km
- Taylorville · 82 km
- Terre Haute · 85 km
Frost dates recorded at MATTOON, 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 Mattoon, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00115430. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/mattoon.