Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Chicago Heights, IL?
The last spring frost here typically falls around 04/23, about 238 days from today. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/20, about 179 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Chicago Heights in Zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 8 weeks of growing season left in Chicago Heights before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
The actual range around Chicago Heights's last frost
04/23 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 04/09 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 05/11 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Chicago Heights compares
Chicago Heights's growing season runs about 179 days, ranking 25,187 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within IL, it ranks 993 of 1,548.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 6a and Chicago Heights's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Chicago Heights's dates instead of trusting one.