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Planting Calendar for McHenry, IL | Almanac.com

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Planting Calendar for McHenry, 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 5 (at MC HENRY -WG STRATTON L&D, IL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 17-Sep 21
Moon Aug 17-30, Sep 14-21
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 13-Aug 10
Moon Jul 13-16, Aug 2-10
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 27-Aug 17
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1, Aug 16-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 6-13
Frost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
60Frost-tolerant
CabbageFrost Jul 6-13
Frost Jul 27-Aug 3
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 20-27
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 29-Jul 6
Moon Jun 29-Jul 3
Frost Jul 13-20
Moon Jul 17-20
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 13-Aug 10
Moon Jul 17-Aug 1
N/A70Frost-tolerant
GarlicFrost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Oct 29-Nov 2
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 20-Aug 1
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 3-24
Moon Aug 16-24
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
N/A60Frost-tolerant
PeasFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 24-Sep 7
Moon Aug 31-Sep 7
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 17-Sep 7
Moon Aug 17-30
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 1
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 3-17
Moon Aug 3-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 8 (at MC HENRY -WG STRATTON L&D, IL climate station, elevation 734 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 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Frost Apr 10-17
Sep 7
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 6- 8
May 8
BasilFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-Jun 3
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-Jun 3
Aug 24
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 6- 8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26-Mar 7
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
N/AJul 13
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Jun 19
BroccoliFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 5
Frost Apr 10-17
Aug 3
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 5
Frost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1- 6
Jun 29
CabbageFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 5
Frost Apr 10-17
Jun 22
CantaloupesFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Frost May 8-22
Moon May 19-22
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 19-22
Jun 29
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-18
Jul 27
CauliflowerFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 1- 5
N/AJul 27
CeleryFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 20-26
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
Frost May 8
Jul 27
ChivesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Aug 10
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 8-22
Moon May 19-22
May 29
CollardsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Jul 27
CornN/AN/AFrost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-Jun 3
Jul 20
CucumbersFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Jul 27
DillN/AN/AFrost May 1-22
Moon May 1- 5, May 19-22
Aug 10
EggplantsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
N/AJul 27
Fava Beans (Broad Beans)N/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
May 22
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 15-Jun 5
Moon May 19-Jun 3
Jul 27
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26-Mar 7
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 5
Frost Apr 10-17
May 22
KohlrabiFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 10-17
May 22
LettuceFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 10-17
May 22
OkraFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-Jun 3
Jul 27
Onion SetsN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-18
N/AJun 29
OreganoFrost Feb 26-Mar 27
Moon Feb 26-Mar 7, Mar 21-27
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
N/AJul 27
ParsleyFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26-Mar 7
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
Frost Apr 10-May 15
Moon Apr 19-May 5
Jul 20
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Jun 29
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
May 22
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-18
Jul 27
PumpkinsFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Jun 22
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Aug 10
RosemaryFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 20-26
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
N/AAug 10
SageFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
N/AJul 20
SpinachFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost Apr 10-17
May 22
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 22-Jun 5
Moon Jun 4- 5
Jun 22
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 5
Frost Apr 17-May 8
Moon Apr 19-May 5
May 22
ThymeFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26-Mar 7
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 19-22
N/AJul 13
TomatillosFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-Apr 5
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-Jun 3
N/AJul 20
TomatoesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 21-27
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
N/AJul 6
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Sep 7
WatermelonsFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 19-May 1
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 19-22
Jul 6
Winter SquashFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Jun 15
Zucchini and Summer SquashFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 19-24
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 19-29
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-29
Aug 3
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