When to plant Kale in Illinois
In spring, from Mar 1 – 20 in Alton to Apr 1 – 20 in Zion.
In fall, from July 1 – Aug 1 in Bartlett to Aug 1 – Sept 15 in Wood River.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Addison | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Algonquin | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Alsip | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Alton | Mar 1 – 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Antioch | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Arlington Heights | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Aurora | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Barrington | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Bartlett | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Batavia | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Beach Park | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Belleville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Bellwood | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Belvidere | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Bensenville | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Berwyn | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Bloomingdale | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Bloomington | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Blue Island | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Bolingbrook | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Bourbonnais | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Bradley | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Bridgeview | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Brookfield | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Buffalo Grove | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Burbank | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Burr Ridge | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Cahokia Heights | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Calumet City | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Campton Hills | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Canton | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Carbondale | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Carol Stream | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Carpentersville | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Cary | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Centralia | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Champaign | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Channahon | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Charleston | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Chatham | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Chicago | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Chicago Heights | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Chicago Ridge | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Cicero | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Collinsville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Columbia | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Country Club Hills | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Crest Hill | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Crestwood | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Crystal Lake | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Danville | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Darien | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Decatur | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Deerfield | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| DeKalb | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Des Plaines | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Dixon | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Dolton | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Downers Grove | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| East Moline | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| East Peoria | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| East St. Louis | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Edwardsville | Mar 1 – 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Effingham | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Elgin | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Elk Grove Village | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Elmhurst | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Elmwood Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Evanston | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Evergreen Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Fairview Heights | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Forest Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Fox Lake | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Frankfort | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Franklin Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Freeport | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Galesburg | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Geneva | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Glen Carbon | Mar 1 – 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Glen Ellyn | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Glendale Heights | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Glenview | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Godfrey | Mar 1 – 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Granite City | Mar 1 – 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Grayslake | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Gurnee | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Hanover Park | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Harvey | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Hazel Crest | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Herrin | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Hickory Hills | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Highland | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Highland Park | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Hinsdale | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Hoffman Estates | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Homer Glen | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Homewood | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Huntley | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Jacksonville | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Joliet | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Justice | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Kankakee | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Kewanee | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| La Grange | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| La Grange Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Lake Forest | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lake in the Hills | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lake Zurich | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lansing | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lemont | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Libertyville | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lincoln | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lincolnwood | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lindenhurst | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lisle | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lockport | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lombard | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Loves Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Lyons | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Machesney Park | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Macomb | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Mahomet | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Manhattan | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Marion | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Markham | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Matteson | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Mattoon | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Maywood | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| McHenry | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Melrose Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Midlothian | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Minooka | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Mokena | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Moline | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Montgomery | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Morris | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Morton | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Morton Grove | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Mount Prospect | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Mount Vernon | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Mundelein | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Naperville | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| New Lenox | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Niles | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Normal | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Norridge | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| North Aurora | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| North Chicago | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Northbrook | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Northlake | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| O'Fallon | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Oak Forest | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Oak Lawn | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Oak Park | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Orland Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Oswego | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Ottawa | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Palatine | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Palos Heights | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Palos Hills | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Park Forest | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Park Ridge | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Pekin | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Peoria | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Pingree Grove | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Plainfield | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Plano | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Pontiac | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Prospect Heights | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Quincy | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Rantoul | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Richton Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| River Forest | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| River Grove | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Riverdale | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Rock Island | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Rockford | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Rolling Meadows | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Romeoville | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Roscoe | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Roselle | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Round Lake | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Round Lake Beach | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Schaumburg | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Schiller Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Shiloh | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Shorewood | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Skokie | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| South Elgin | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| South Holland | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Springfield | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| St. Charles | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Sterling | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Streamwood | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Streator | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Summit | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Swansea | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Sycamore | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Taylorville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Tinley Park | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Troy | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Urbana | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Vernon Hills | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Villa Park | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Warrenville | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Washington | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Waterloo | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Wauconda | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Waukegan | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| West Chicago | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Westchester | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Western Springs | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Westmont | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Wheaton | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Wheeling | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Wilmette | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Winfield | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Winnetka | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Wood Dale | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Wood River | Mar 1 – 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 15 |
| Woodridge | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Woodstock | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Worth | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Yorkville | Apr 1 – 20 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Zion | Apr 1 – 20 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for kale.