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Planting Calendar for Chicago Heights, IL | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Chicago Heights, 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.

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 could 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 temperatures, 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. 

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've 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 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.

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 Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 30 (at PARK FOREST, IL climate station, elevation 708 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 4-19
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
Sep 17
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 24-30
Apr 30
BasilFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 14-23
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 14-23
Sep 3
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 24-30
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 2-7
May 14
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
N/AJul 23
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Jun 11
BroccoliFrost Mar 4-19
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
Aug 13
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
Jul 9
CabbageFrost Mar 4-19
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
Jul 2
CantaloupesFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost Apr 30-May 14
Moon May 7-14
Frost May 7-14
Moon May 7-14
Jul 9
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 2-7
Aug 6
CauliflowerFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 23-May 7
Moon Apr 23
N/AAug 6
CeleryFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
Frost Apr 30
Aug 6
ChivesFrost Mar 4-19
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Aug 20
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 30-May 14
Moon May 7-14
May 21
CollardsFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Aug 6
CucumbersFrost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Aug 6
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 23-May 14
Moon Apr 23, May 8-14
Aug 20
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Jul 9
EggplantsFrost Mar 4-19
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
N/AAug 6
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
May 14
FennelFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost May 7-14
Moon May 7-14
Frost Apr 30-May 14
Moon May 7-14
Jul 30
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 7-28
Moon May 7-23
Aug 6
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Jul 16
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 4-19
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
May 14
KohlrabiFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
May 14
LeeksFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
N/AJul 2
LettuceFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
May 14
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 8-16
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 14-23
Aug 6
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 2-7
N/AJul 9
OreganoFrost Feb 19-Mar 19
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
N/AAug 6
ParsleyFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
Frost Apr 2-May 7
Moon Apr 8-23
Jul 30
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 2-7
Jul 9
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
May 14
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 2-7
Aug 6
PumpkinsFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Jul 2
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 2-7
Aug 20
RosemaryFrost Feb 5-19
Moon Feb 9-19
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
N/AAug 20
SageFrost Mar 4-19
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
N/AJul 30
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-16
Moon Apr 2-7
Jul 9
SpinachFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 8-9
May 14
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 14-28
Moon May 14-23
Jul 30
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 14-28
Moon May 24-28
Jul 2
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost Apr 16-30
Moon Apr 16-23
Frost Apr 9-30
Moon Apr 9-23
May 14
ThymeFrost Feb 19-Mar 4
Moon Feb 19-24
Frost May 7-14
Moon May 7-14
N/AJul 23
TomatillosFrost Mar 19-Apr 2
Moon Mar 19-25
Frost May 14-28
Moon May 14-23
N/AJul 30
TomatoesFrost Mar 4-19
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
N/AJul 16
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 2-9
Moon Apr 2-7
Sep 17
WatermelonsFrost Apr 9-23
Moon Apr 9-23
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Frost May 7-14
Moon May 7-14
Jul 16
Winter SquashFrost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Jun 25
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 9-16
Moon Apr 9-16
Frost May 7-21
Moon May 7-21
Frost May 14-21
Moon May 14-21
Aug 13

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 15 (at PARK FOREST, IL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 27-Oct 1
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 23-Aug 20
Moon Jul 23-Aug 3, Aug 20
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 6-27
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 16-23
Moon Jul 16-21
Frost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 25-Jul 9
Moon Jul 5-9
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 16-23
Moon Jul 16-21
Frost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-13
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 30-Aug 6
Moon Jul 30-Aug 3
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 9-16
Moon Jul 9-16
Frost Jul 23-30
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 23-Aug 20
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 16-30
Moon Jul 16-21
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 29-Nov 11
Moon Oct 29-31
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 30-Aug 13
Moon Aug 4-13
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 13-Sep 3
Moon Aug 13-19, Sep 2-3
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 13-Sep 3
Moon Aug 13-19, Sep 2-3
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 3-17
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 27-Sep 17
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 20-27
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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