When to plant in Palos Heights, IL
USDA Zone 6aPalos Heights, 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, Palos Heights gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
CHICAGO MIDWAY AP 3SW · 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 Palos Heights’s own odds, recorded at CHICAGO MIDWAY AP 3SW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 6 | Apr 22 | Apr 9 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Apr 26 | Apr 10 | Mar 30 | Oct 21 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Mar 15 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 | Nov 26 |
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 Palos Heights, 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.
Palos Heights planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Palos Heights, IL?
On average, the last spring frost in Palos Heights is around April 10 (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 Palos Heights, IL?
Expect Palos Heights's first fall frost near November 1 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Palos Heights in?
Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights?
Palos Heights has about 205 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 10) and first fall frost (November 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Palos Heights?
For Palos Heights, sow tomatoes indoors about February 13–February 27 and move the seedlings out around April 17, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Palos Heights
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Palos Heights’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Worth · 3 km
- Chicago Ridge · 5 km
- Palos Hills · 5 km
- Alsip · 5 km
- Crestwood · 5 km
- Oak Lawn · 7 km
- Oak Forest · 7 km
- Midlothian · 7 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICAGO MIDWAY AP 3SW, 8 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 Palos Heights, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00111577. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/palos-heights.