Last frost date in Lincoln, Illinois
April 20
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by April 5; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after May 4.
October 16
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by October 3.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Lincoln (USC00115079), 1.7 miles from Lincoln, elevation 583 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 5 | Apr 20 | May 4 |
| First frost in fall | Oct 3 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
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: 179
Planting calendar for Lincoln
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about October 20 (Lincoln: October 16).
- 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 20 (Lincoln: April 20).
- Corn saladFeb 15 – Apr 15
- SpinachMar 1 – Apr 15
- Cabbage plantsMar 10 – Apr 1
- Chervil and chivesMar 10 – Apr 10
- Collards plantsMar 10 – June 1
- DandelionMar 10 – Apr 10
- Garden peasMar 10 – Apr 10
- GarlicMar 10 – Apr 1
- Onion setsMar 10 – Apr 1
- RadishesMar 10 – May 10
- Rhubarb plantsMar 10 – Apr 10
- TurnipsMar 10 – Apr 1
- Asparagus plantsMar 15 – Apr 15
- Cauliflower plantsMar 15 – Apr 20
- LeeksMar 15 – Apr 15
- Onion plants plantsMar 15 – Apr 10
- Onion seedMar 15 – Apr 1
- PotatoesMar 15 – Apr 10
- ShallotsMar 15 – Apr 15
- SorrelMar 15 – May 1
- BeetsMar 20 – June 1
- Head lettuce plantsMar 20 – Apr 15
- Horseradish plantsMar 20 – Apr 20
- KaleMar 20 – Apr 10
- KohlrabiMar 20 – May 1
- Leaf lettuceMar 20 – May 15
- Mustard greensMar 20 – May 1
- ParsleyMar 20 – Apr 20
- ParsnipsMar 20 – Apr 20
- SalsifyMar 20 – May 1
- Upland cressMar 20 – May 1
- Broccoli plantsMar 25 – Apr 20
- Brussels sprouts plantsMar 25 – Apr 20
- EndiveMar 25 – Apr 15
- Florence fennelMar 25 – Apr 15
- CarrotsApr 1 – May 15
- Swiss chardApr 1 – June 15
- Celery and celeriac plantsApr 10 – May 1
- Snap beansApr 25 – June 30
- Sweet cornApr 25 – June 15
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)May 1 – June 15
- CucumbersMay 1 – June 15
- Lima beansMay 1 – June 20
- New Zealand spinachMay 1 – June 15
- OkraMay 1 – June 1
- Summer squashMay 1 – June 15
- WatermelonMay 1 – June 15
- TomatoesMay 5 – June 10
- Black-eyed peasMay 10 – June 15
- Eggplant plantsMay 10 – June 1
- Peppers plantsMay 10 – June 1
- SoybeansMay 10 – June 20
- Sweet potatoesMay 10 – 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
- Springfield 29 mi · last frost Apr 15
- Decatur 31 mi · last frost Apr 14
- Bloomington 31 mi · last frost Apr 25
- Pekin 32 mi · last frost Apr 16
- Normal 32 mi · last frost Apr 25