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