Carterville, IL 62918 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Carterville, IL?
The last spring frost here typically falls around 04/09, about 224 days from today. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/22, about 195 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Carterville in Zone 7a (0 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 Carterville before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
Why 04/09 isn't a guarantee
04/09 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 03/25 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 04/25 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Carterville compares
Carterville's growing season runs about 195 days, ranking 19,249 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within IL, it ranks 337 of 1,548.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 7a and Carterville's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Carterville's dates instead of trusting one.