When to plant in Skokie, IL
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Skokie, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Skokie 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 Skokie’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 Skokie, 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.
Skokie planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Skokie, IL?
Skokie'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 Skokie, IL?
In Skokie, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 21 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Skokie in?
Skokie 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 Skokie?
Skokie 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 Skokie?
For Skokie, 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 Skokie
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Skokie’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lincolnwood · 3 km
- Evanston · 4 km
- Morton Grove · 4 km
- Wilmette · 5 km
- Niles · 6 km
- Winnetka · 8 km
- Park Ridge · 9 km
- Glenview · 9 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, 12 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 Skokie, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00111497. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/skokie.