When to plant in Wilmette, IL
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Wilmette, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Wilmette 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 Wilmette’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 Wilmette, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Wilmette planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Wilmette, IL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Wilmette around April 26 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Wilmette, IL?
The first fall frost in Wilmette typically arrives around October 21 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Wilmette in?
Wilmette 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 Wilmette?
Wilmette 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 Wilmette?
For Wilmette, 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 Wilmette
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Wilmette’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Winnetka · 3 km
- Evanston · 4 km
- Skokie · 5 km
- Morton Grove · 6 km
- Lincolnwood · 8 km
- Glenview · 8 km
- Niles · 9 km
- Northbrook · 10 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, 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 Wilmette, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00111497. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/wilmette.