Last frost date in Lake Forest, Illinois
April 26
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by April 11; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after May 11.
October 21
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by October 5.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Chicago Botanic Garden (USC00111497), 7.5 miles from Lake Forest, elevation 630 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | May 11 |
| First frost in fall | Oct 5 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
An early or late year is one in 10: 1 year in 10 the frost comes before the early date, and 1 year in 10 after the late date.
Frost-free days in an average year: 176
Planting calendar for Lake Forest
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about October 20 (Lake Forest: October 21).
- Black-eyed peasJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Celery and celeriac plantsJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- CucumbersJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Eggplant plantsJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- New Zealand spinachJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- OkraJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Peppers plantsJune 1 – July 10 (past for this year)
- SalsifyJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- SoybeansJune 1 – July 5 (past for this year)
- Summer squashJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Sweet cornJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Sweet potatoesJune 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- Swiss chardJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- TomatoesJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Winter squashJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)June 15 – July 20 (past for this year)
- CarrotsJune 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Florence fennelJune 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Lima beansJune 15 – 30 (past for this year)
- PotatoesJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- WatermelonJune 15 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Witloof chicoryJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- BeetsJuly 1 – Aug 5 (past for this year)
- Broccoli plantsJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Brussels sprouts plantsJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Cabbage plantsJuly 1 – 20 (past for this year)
- Cauliflower plantsJuly 1 – Aug 5 (past for this year)
- Snap beansJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- RutabagaJuly 10 – 20 (past for this year)
- Chinese cabbageJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Collards plantsJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- EndiveJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- KaleJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- KohlrabiJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Leaf lettuceJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- ParsleyJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- SorrelJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- TurnipsJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- DandelionAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Head lettuce plantsAug 1 – 30 (past for this year)
- Mustard greensAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- RadishesAug 1 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- SpinachAug 20 – Sept 10 (past for this year)
- Corn saladSept 1 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- Upland cressSept 1 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- Rhubarb plantsOct 15 – Dec 1Now
- Asparagus plantsNov 1 – Dec 15Soon
USDA lists chervil and chives, garlic, horseradish, leeks, onion plants, onion seed, onion sets, parsnips, garden peas, shallots as generally spring-planted here.
Spring planting
USDA dates for places whose average last freeze is about April 30 (Lake Forest: April 26).
- Corn saladMar 1 – May 1
- Onion setsMar 10 – Apr 10
- Cabbage plantsMar 15 – Apr 10
- GarlicMar 15 – Apr 15
- Onion seedMar 15 – Apr 15
- Asparagus plantsMar 20 – Apr 15
- Chervil and chivesMar 20 – Apr 20
- DandelionMar 20 – Apr 20
- Garden peasMar 20 – May 1
- PotatoesMar 20 – May 10
- RadishesMar 20 – May 10
- Rhubarb plantsMar 20 – Apr 15
- SpinachMar 20 – Apr 20
- TurnipsMar 20 – May 1
- BeetsApr 1 – June 15
- Broccoli plantsApr 1 – May 1
- Brussels sprouts plantsApr 1 – May 1
- Collards plantsApr 1 – June 1
- EndiveApr 1 – May 1
- Florence fennelApr 1 – May 1
- Head lettuce plantsApr 1 – May 1
- Horseradish plantsApr 1 – 30
- KaleApr 1 – 20
- KohlrabiApr 1 – May 10
- Leaf lettuceApr 1 – June 1
- LeeksApr 1 – May 1
- Mustard greensApr 1 – May 10
- Onion plants plantsApr 1 – May 1
- ParsleyApr 1 – May 1
- ParsnipsApr 1 – May 1
- SalsifyApr 1 – May 15
- ShallotsApr 1 – May 1
- SorrelApr 1 – May 15
- CarrotsApr 10 – June 1
- Cauliflower plantsApr 10 – May 10
- Upland cressApr 10 – May 10
- Celery and celeriac plantsApr 15 – May 1
- Swiss chardApr 15 – June 15
- New Zealand spinachMay 1 – June 15
- RutabagaMay 1 – June 1
- Summer squashMay 1 – 30
- OkraMay 10 – June 1
- Snap beansMay 10 – June 30
- Sweet cornMay 10 – June 15
- TomatoesMay 10 – June 15
- Black-eyed peasMay 15 – June 1
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)May 15 – June 15
- CucumbersMay 15 – June 15
- Eggplant plantsMay 15 – June 10
- Lima beansMay 15 – June 15
- Peppers plantsMay 15 – June 10
- SoybeansMay 15 – June 15
- WatermelonMay 15 – June 15
- Sweet potatoesMay 20 – June 10
- Witloof chicoryJune 15 – July 1
USDA lists chinese cabbage as generally fall-planted here.
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5 (earliest safe spring and latest safe fall dates), applied to this place's NOAA frost dates. “Plants” means setting out transplants, not sowing seed. How we match the table.
Nearby in Illinois
- Highland Park 4 mi · last frost Apr 26
- Deerfield 5 mi · last frost Apr 26
- Vernon Hills 5 mi · last frost Apr 29
- North Chicago 6 mi · last frost Apr 30
- Libertyville 7 mi · last frost Apr 29