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Planting Calendar for Champaign, IL | Almanac.com

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Planting Calendar for Champaign, IL

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you're already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost but also many are frost-tolerant—and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they can still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot tempertures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 19 (at CHAMPAIGN 3S, IL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 31-Oct 5
Moon Sep 14-29
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 27-Aug 24
Moon Aug 2-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 10-31
Moon Aug 16-30
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 20-27
Frost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 16-24
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 20-27
Frost Aug 10-17
Moon Aug 16-17
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 3-10
Moon Aug 3-10
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 13-20
Moon Jul 17-20
Frost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 27-Aug 24
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1, Aug 16-24
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Nov 2-15
Moon Nov 2-12
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 16-17
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 16-24
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 17-Sep 7
Moon Aug 17-30
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 16-24
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 16-24
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 7-21
Moon Sep 7-13
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 31-Sep 21
Moon Sep 14-21
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 10-24
Moon Aug 16-24
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 17-31
Moon Aug 31
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 21 (at CHAMPAIGN 3S, IL climate station, elevation 721 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
Sep 21
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 7-18
Apr 21
BasilFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 5
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 5
Sep 7
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 7-18
Frost Mar 24-31
May 5
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 20-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
N/AJul 27
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Jun 2
BroccoliFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 19-21
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
Aug 17
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 21-26
Frost Dec 15-29
Moon Dec 23-29
Jul 13
CabbageFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 19-21
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
Jul 6
CantaloupesFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-May 5
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Jul 13
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Apr 6- 7
Aug 10
CauliflowerFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 19-28
N/AAug 10
CeleryFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Jan 26-Feb 5
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Frost Apr 21
Moon Apr 21
Aug 10
ChivesFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Aug 24
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-May 5
May 12
CollardsFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 19-21
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Aug 10
CornN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5
Aug 3
CucumbersFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Aug 10
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 14-May 5
Moon Apr 19-May 5
Aug 24
EggplantsFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
N/AAug 10
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
May 5
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 28-May 19
Moon Apr 28-May 5, May 19
Aug 10
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 20-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 19-21
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
May 5
KohlrabiFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
May 5
LettuceFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
May 5
OkraFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-Apr 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 5
Aug 10
Onion SetsN/AFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Apr 6- 7
N/AJul 13
OreganoFrost Feb 9-Mar 9
Moon Feb 20-Mar 7
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
N/AAug 10
ParsleyFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 20-23
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Frost Mar 24-Apr 28
Moon Mar 24-Apr 5, Apr 19-28
Aug 3
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 24-31
Jul 13
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
May 5
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Apr 6- 7
Aug 10
PumpkinsFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Jul 6
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 24-31
Aug 24
RosemaryFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Jan 26-Feb 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
N/AAug 24
SageFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
N/AAug 3
SpinachFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-31
May 5
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 6-18
Jul 6
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 19-21
Frost Mar 31-Apr 21
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5, Apr 19-21
May 5
ThymeFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 20-23
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Moon Apr 28-May 5
N/AJul 27
TomatillosFrost Mar 9-24
Moon Mar 21-24
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 5
N/AAug 3
TomatoesFrost Feb 23-Mar 9
Moon Feb 23-Mar 7
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
N/AJul 20
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 24-31
Sep 21
WatermelonsFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Jul 20
Winter SquashFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Jun 29
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 5
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 5
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5
Aug 17
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