When to plant in Urbana, IL
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Urbana, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6a means Urbana sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Urbana is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CHAMPAIGN 3S · 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 Urbana’s own odds, recorded at CHAMPAIGN 3S.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Oct 1 | Oct 15 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Apr 29 | Apr 15 | Apr 1 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 19 | Apr 4 | Mar 20 | Oct 22 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 |
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 Urbana, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Urbana planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Urbana, IL?
Urbana's average last spring frost falls near April 15 — 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 Urbana, IL?
Expect Urbana's first fall frost near October 24 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Urbana in?
Urbana 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 Urbana?
There are roughly 192 frost-free days in Urbana (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 15 to the first fall frost near October 24.
When should I plant tomatoes in Urbana?
In Urbana, start tomato seeds indoors around February 18–March 4, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 22 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Urbana
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Urbana’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Champaign · 7 km
- Mahomet · 19 km
- Rantoul · 22 km
- Danville · 50 km
- Decatur · 69 km
- Charleston · 70 km
- Mattoon · 72 km
- Bloomington · 77 km
Frost dates recorded at CHAMPAIGN 3S, 5 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 Urbana, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00118740. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/urbana.