When to plant in Waukegan, IL
USDA Zone 6aWaukegan, 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, Waukegan gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average last spring frost in Waukegan is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WAUKEGAN · 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 Waukegan’s own odds, recorded at WAUKEGAN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 27 | May 8 | Apr 25 | Sep 22 | Oct 8 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 14 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Sep 30 | Oct 19 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | May 3 | Apr 20 | Apr 5 | Oct 12 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
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 Waukegan, 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.
Waukegan planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Waukegan, IL?
Waukegan's average last spring frost falls near April 30 — 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 Waukegan, IL?
The first fall frost in Waukegan typically arrives around October 19 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Waukegan in?
Waukegan 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 Waukegan?
Waukegan has about 172 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 30) and first fall frost (October 19).
When should I plant tomatoes in Waukegan?
For Waukegan, sow tomatoes indoors about March 5–March 19 and move the seedlings out around May 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Waukegan
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Waukegan’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Gurnee · 5 km
- North Chicago · 6 km
- Beach Park · 8 km
- Gages Lake · 9 km
- Zion · 10 km
- Libertyville · 12 km
- Grayslake · 14 km
- Lindenhurst · 14 km
Frost dates recorded at WAUKEGAN, 2 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 Waukegan, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00119029. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/waukegan.