When to plant spinach in Illinois
Illinois spans USDA zones 5a–7a, so the right time to plant spinach shifts by weeks across the state. The window to sow seed directly outdoors runs from about February 21 in Granite City to March 20 in McHenry — below are local dates for 226 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Direct sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 6a | April 10 | November 5 | February 27 – March 27 |
| Aurora | 5b | April 19 | October 23 | March 8 – April 5 |
| Naperville | 5b | April 28 | October 16 | March 17 – April 14 |
| Joliet | 5b | April 19 | October 25 | March 8 – April 5 |
| Rockford | 5b | April 24 | October 17 | March 13 – April 10 |
| Elgin | 5b | April 26 | October 18 | March 15 – April 12 |
| Springfield | 6a | April 15 | October 22 | March 4 – April 1 |
| Peoria | 6a | April 16 | October 23 | March 5 – April 2 |
Spinach in Illinois: FAQ
When can I plant spinach in Illinois?
Across Illinois, the time to direct-sow spinach spans roughly February 21 in Granite City to March 20 in McHenry, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the spinach planting date vary across Illinois?
Yes. Illinois publishes 226 cities with their own frost dates, so the right spinach planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
How long does spinach take to grow in Illinois?
Spinach takes about 40–50 days to reach harvest once planted — check that this fits inside your city's frost-free season on its place page.
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