When to plant in Astoria, IL
Planting dates worked out from Astoria's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
May 3
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Apr 15
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Oct 20
1 year in 10 by Oct 7
Frost-free days
186
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Rushville · 20.3 km away · station 205 m, town 217 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 27 |
| Sweet pepper | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 2 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 13 – Feb 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Apr 29 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | May 14 |
| Bush beans | — | Apr 26 – May 17 | Jun 15 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | May 29 |
| Beet | — | Mar 30 – May 11 | May 19 |
| Potato | — | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Jun 8 |
| Kale | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 9 |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | May 19 |
| Cucumber | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 22 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 17 |
| Winter squash | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | May 3 – May 17 | Jul 22 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 26 – May 17 | Jun 25 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | Jun 18 |
| Garlic | — | Oct 6 – Nov 3 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | Apr 27 |
| Basil | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | May 3 – May 17 | Jun 29 |
Astoria's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1893 | Apr 23 |
| 1894 | Mar 30 |
| 1895 | Apr 3 |
| 1896 | Apr 4 |
| 1902 | Apr 15 |
| 1903 | May 1 |
| 1904 | Apr 20 |
| 1905 | Apr 18 |
| 1906 | May 9 |
| 1907 | May 11 |
| 1908 | May 2 |
| 1909 | May 1 |
| 1910 | Apr 24 |
| 1911 | May 2 |
| 1912 | Apr 19 |
| 1913 | Apr 5 |
| 1914 | Apr 20 |
| 1915 | Apr 3 |
| 1916 | Apr 9 |
| 1917 | May 5 |
| 1918 | May 1 |
| 1919 | Apr 26 |
| 1920 | Apr 14 |
| 1921 | Apr 18 |
| 1922 | Apr 20 |
| 1923 | Apr 16 |
| 1924 | Apr 2 |
| 1925 | May 25 |
| 1926 | Apr 19 |
| 1927 | Apr 24 |
| 1928 | Apr 28 |
| 1929 | Apr 1 |
| 1931 | May 7 |
| 1932 | Apr 27 |
| 1933 | Apr 27 |
| 1934 | Apr 25 |
| 1935 | Apr 16 |
| 1936 | Apr 22 |
| 1937 | Apr 11 |
| 1938 | Apr 10 |
| 1939 | Apr 13 |
| 1940 | Apr 14 |
| 1941 | Mar 29 |
| 1942 | Apr 11 |
| 1943 | Apr 19 |
| 1944 | May 6 |
| 1945 | Apr 19 |
| 1946 | Apr 12 |
| 1947 | Apr 21 |
| 1948 | Apr 9 |
| 1949 | Apr 19 |
| 1950 | Apr 21 |
| 1951 | Apr 22 |
| 1952 | Apr 15 |
| 1954 | May 4 |
| 1955 | Apr 7 |
| 1957 | Apr 15 |
| 1958 | Apr 29 |
| 1959 | Apr 22 |
| 1961 | May 2 |
| 1962 | Apr 17 |
| 1963 | Apr 23 |
| 1964 | Apr 9 |
| 1965 | Apr 16 |
| 1966 | May 10 |
| 1967 | Apr 24 |
| 1968 | Apr 25 |
| 1970 | May 2 |
| 1971 | Apr 7 |
| 1972 | Apr 25 |
| 1973 | Apr 13 |
| 1975 | Apr 7 |
| 1976 | May 4 |
| 1977 | Apr 6 |
| 1978 | May 2 |
| 1979 | Apr 10 |
| 1980 | Apr 15 |
| 1981 | Apr 6 |
| 1982 | Apr 21 |
| 1983 | Apr 20 |
| 1984 | Apr 3 |
| 1985 | Apr 9 |
| 1986 | Apr 22 |
| 1989 | Apr 13 |
| 1990 | Apr 18 |
| 1991 | Mar 30 |
| 1992 | Apr 5 |
| 1993 | Apr 17 |
| 1994 | Apr 7 |
| 1995 | Apr 6 |
| 1997 | Apr 17 |
| 1998 | Apr 5 |
| 1999 | Apr 16 |
| 2001 | Apr 18 |
| 2002 | May 25 |
| 2003 | Apr 10 |
| 2005 | May 4 |
| 2006 | Apr 8 |
| 2007 | Apr 15 |
| 2008 | Apr 29 |
| 2009 | Apr 13 |
| 2010 | Mar 27 |
| 2011 | May 5 |
| 2012 | Apr 12 |
| 2013 | Apr 21 |
| 2014 | Apr 16 |
| 2015 | Apr 5 |
| 2016 | Apr 13 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 174 |
| 1894 | 192 |
| 1895 | 188 |
| 1896 | 172 |
| 1902 | 181 |
| 1903 | 174 |
| 1904 | 185 |
| 1905 | 176 |
| 1906 | 153 |
| 1907 | 154 |
| 1908 | 149 |
| 1909 | 163 |
| 1910 | 180 |
| 1911 | 174 |
| 1912 | 186 |
| 1913 | 198 |
| 1914 | 189 |
| 1915 | 188 |
| 1916 | 193 |
| 1917 | 155 |
| 1918 | 183 |
| 1919 | 184 |
| 1920 | 197 |
| 1921 | 172 |
| 1922 | 179 |
| 1923 | 187 |
| 1924 | 202 |
| 1925 | 137 |
| 1926 | 188 |
| 1927 | 194 |
| 1928 | 150 |
| 1929 | 204 |
| 1931 | 180 |
| 1932 | 161 |
| 1933 | 180 |
| 1934 | 185 |
| 1935 | 170 |
| 1936 | 183 |
| 1937 | 185 |
| 1938 | 196 |
| 1939 | 183 |
| 1940 | 206 |
| 1941 | 212 |
| 1942 | 169 |
| 1943 | 180 |
| 1944 | 182 |
| 1945 | 172 |
| 1946 | 182 |
| 1947 | 200 |
| 1948 | 177 |
| 1949 | 188 |
| 1950 | 196 |
| 1951 | 191 |
| 1952 | 170 |
| 1954 | 176 |
| 1955 | 205 |
| 1957 | 194 |
| 1958 | 154 |
| 1959 | 172 |
| 1961 | 176 |
| 1963 | 188 |
| 1964 | 179 |
| 1965 | 190 |
| 1966 | 148 |
| 1967 | 157 |
| 1968 | 182 |
| 1970 | 160 |
| 1971 | 210 |
| 1972 | 172 |
| 1973 | 203 |
| 1975 | 195 |
| 1976 | 164 |
| 1977 | 189 |
| 1978 | 158 |
| 1979 | 177 |
| 1980 | 172 |
| 1981 | 195 |
| 1982 | 182 |
| 1983 | 155 |
| 1984 | 178 |
| 1985 | 174 |
| 1986 | 197 |
| 1989 | 202 |
| 1991 | 190 |
| 1992 | 194 |
| 1993 | 174 |
| 1995 | 167 |
| 1997 | 187 |
| 1998 | 214 |
| 1999 | 184 |
| 2002 | 141 |
| 2003 | 174 |
| 2005 | 174 |
| 2006 | 186 |
| 2007 | 199 |
| 2008 | 181 |
| 2009 | 180 |
| 2010 | 215 |
| 2011 | 176 |
| 2012 | 197 |
| 2013 | 184 |
| 2014 | 198 |
| 2015 | 194 |
| 2016 | 212 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 20.9 °C |
| 1894 | 21.7 °C |
| 1895 | 21.4 °C |
| 1896 | 21.0 °C |
| 1902 | 19.4 °C |
| 1903 | 19.5 °C |
| 1904 | 18.4 °C |
| 1905 | 20.1 °C |
| 1906 | 20.6 °C |
| 1907 | 18.2 °C |
| 1908 | 19.9 °C |
| 1909 | 19.2 °C |
| 1910 | 19.0 °C |
| 1911 | 20.8 °C |
| 1912 | 20.1 °C |
| 1913 | 21.2 °C |
| 1914 | 21.4 °C |
| 1915 | 18.8 °C |
| 1916 | 20.3 °C |
| 1917 | 18.4 °C |
| 1918 | 20.0 °C |
| 1919 | 20.7 °C |
| 1920 | 19.2 °C |
| 1921 | 21.6 °C |
| 1922 | 21.0 °C |
| 1923 | 20.0 °C |
| 1924 | 18.7 °C |
| 1925 | 21.0 °C |
| 1926 | 19.3 °C |
| 1927 | 19.1 °C |
| 1928 | 18.9 °C |
| 1929 | 19.3 °C |
| 1931 | 20.8 °C |
| 1932 | 20.3 °C |
| 1933 | 21.2 °C |
| 1934 | 22.1 °C |
| 1935 | 19.1 °C |
| 1936 | 22.4 °C |
| 1937 | 20.3 °C |
| 1938 | 20.8 °C |
| 1939 | 20.2 °C |
| 1940 | 19.3 °C |
| 1941 | 21.2 °C |
| 1942 | 19.8 °C |
| 1943 | 19.6 °C |
| 1944 | 20.1 °C |
| 1945 | 18.6 °C |
| 1946 | 19.2 °C |
| 1947 | 19.9 °C |
| 1948 | 20.5 °C |
| 1949 | 20.2 °C |
| 1950 | 18.6 °C |
| 1951 | 19.8 °C |
| 1952 | 20.4 °C |
| 1954 | 21.3 °C |
| 1955 | 21.5 °C |
| 1957 | 20.3 °C |
| 1958 | 19.2 °C |
| 1959 | 21.2 °C |
| 1961 | 18.4 °C |
| 1962 | 20.3 °C |
| 1963 | 20.5 °C |
| 1964 | 20.8 °C |
| 1965 | 20.4 °C |
| 1966 | 18.8 °C |
| 1967 | 18.4 °C |
| 1968 | 19.4 °C |
| 1970 | 20.0 °C |
| 1971 | 19.6 °C |
| 1972 | 19.7 °C |
| 1973 | 19.6 °C |
| 1975 | 19.7 °C |
| 1976 | 19.3 °C |
| 1977 | 21.1 °C |
| 1978 | 20.3 °C |
| 1979 | 19.9 °C |
| 1980 | 20.6 °C |
| 1981 | 19.9 °C |
| 1982 | 19.0 °C |
| 1983 | 20.3 °C |
| 1984 | 19.5 °C |
| 1985 | 20.1 °C |
| 1986 | 20.3 °C |
| 1989 | 19.0 °C |
| 1991 | 20.5 °C |
| 1992 | 18.0 °C |
| 1993 | 19.0 °C |
| 1994 | 19.1 °C |
| 1995 | 18.9 °C |
| 1997 | 18.4 °C |
| 1999 | 20.1 °C |
| 2003 | 19.0 °C |
| 2005 | 20.4 °C |
| 2006 | 20.2 °C |
| 2007 | 20.3 °C |
| 2008 | 18.5 °C |
| 2009 | 18.5 °C |
| 2011 | 19.4 °C |
| 2012 | 20.4 °C |
| 2013 | 18.8 °C |
| 2014 | 18.6 °C |
| 2015 | 19.6 °C |
| 2016 | 19.8 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1893, Astoria's last spring frost has stayed at about the same time of year. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Rushville (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.