When to plant in Woodstock, IL
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Woodstock, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 5b means Woodstock sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
CRYSTAL LAKE 4NW · 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 Woodstock’s own odds, recorded at CRYSTAL LAKE 4NW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 5 | Apr 23 | Sep 25 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Oct 7 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 12 | Mar 31 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 Woodstock, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Woodstock planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Woodstock, IL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Woodstock around April 25 (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 Woodstock, IL?
The first fall frost in Woodstock typically arrives around October 22 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Woodstock in?
Woodstock is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Woodstock?
There are roughly 180 frost-free days in Woodstock (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 25 to the first fall frost near October 22.
When should I plant tomatoes in Woodstock?
In Woodstock, start tomato seeds indoors around February 28–March 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Woodstock
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Woodstock’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Crystal Lake · 12 km
- McHenry · 12 km
- Huntley · 17 km
- Lake in the Hills · 18 km
- Cary · 19 km
- Algonquin · 19 km
- Carpentersville · 24 km
- Fox Lake · 25 km
Frost dates recorded at CRYSTAL LAKE 4NW, 6 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 Woodstock, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00112048. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/woodstock.