When to plant in Wood Dale, IL
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Wood Dale, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Wood Dale gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Wood Dale is now 9 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP · 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 Wood Dale’s own odds, recorded at CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 13 | Apr 29 | Apr 15 | Oct 3 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F | Apr 19 | Apr 5 | Mar 21 | Oct 27 | Nov 7 | Nov 22 |
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 Wood Dale, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 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.
Wood Dale planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Wood Dale, IL?
Wood Dale's average last spring frost falls near April 16 — 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 Wood Dale, IL?
In Wood Dale, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 28 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Wood Dale in?
Wood Dale 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 Wood Dale?
Wood Dale has about 195 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 16) and first fall frost (October 28).
When should I plant tomatoes in Wood Dale?
For Wood Dale, sow tomatoes indoors about February 19–March 5 and move the seedlings out around April 23, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Wood Dale
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Wood Dale’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bensenville · 3 km
- Elk Grove Village · 4 km
- Addison · 5 km
- Elmhurst · 8 km
- Northlake · 9 km
- Roselle · 9 km
- Villa Park · 9 km
- Franklin Park · 9 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP, 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 Wood Dale, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094846. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/wood-dale.