When to plant in Chatsworth, IL
Planting dates worked out from Chatsworth's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Last spring frost
- Early · riskyApr 99 years in 10 still get a later frost
- TypicalApr 22about half of years get a later frost
- Safe to plant outMay 51 year in 10 gets a later frost
Hardy crops like peas and spinach are timed from the typical date. Wait for the safe date before planting out tomatoes, peppers and squash.
First fall frost
- EarlyOct 21 year in 10 has frost by then
- TypicalOct 13about half of years have had frost
- LateOct 279 years in 10 have had frost by then
A typical year has 172 frost-free days. Plan for tender crops to be ripe by the early date.
Station used: Piper City · 9.2 km away · station 204 m, town 222 m. How we match towns to stations
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | May 5 – May 19 | Jun 29 |
| Sweet pepper | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | May 5 – May 19 | Jul 4 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Feb 18 – Feb 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 4 |
| Peas | — | Mar 24 – Apr 21 | May 18 |
| Bush beans | — | Apr 28 – May 19 | Jun 17 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 2 – May 14 | Jun 1 |
| Beet | — | Apr 2 – May 14 | May 22 |
| Potato | — | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Jun 11 |
| Kale | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 13 |
| Broccoli | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | May 24 |
| Cucumber | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 5 – May 19 | Jun 24 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 5 – May 19 | Jun 19 |
| Winter squash | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | May 5 – May 19 | Jul 24 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 28 – May 19 | Jun 27 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Jun 23 |
| Garlic | — | Sep 29 – Oct 27 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Mar 24 – Apr 21 | May 1 |
| Basil | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 5 – May 19 | Jul 1 |
Chatsworth's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Apr 30 |
| 1970 | May 6 |
| 1971 | May 3 |
| 1972 | Apr 26 |
| 1973 | Apr 17 |
| 1974 | May 7 |
| 1975 | Apr 21 |
| 1976 | May 7 |
| 1977 | May 10 |
| 1978 | May 3 |
| 1979 | May 1 |
| 1980 | Apr 26 |
| 1981 | May 12 |
| 1982 | Apr 28 |
| 1983 | May 9 |
| 1984 | May 16 |
| 1986 | Apr 22 |
| 1987 | May 5 |
| 1988 | Apr 21 |
| 1989 | May 6 |
| 1990 | Apr 18 |
| 1991 | Apr 21 |
| 1992 | May 7 |
| 1993 | Apr 21 |
| 1994 | Apr 23 |
| 1995 | Apr 14 |
| 1996 | Apr 18 |
| 1997 | Apr 28 |
| 1998 | Apr 5 |
| 1999 | Apr 25 |
| 2000 | Apr 26 |
| 2001 | Apr 19 |
| 2002 | May 22 |
| 2003 | Apr 24 |
| 2004 | Apr 15 |
| 2005 | May 5 |
| 2006 | Apr 11 |
| 2007 | Apr 16 |
| 2008 | May 1 |
| 2009 | Apr 18 |
| 2010 | Apr 9 |
| 2011 | Apr 8 |
| 2012 | Apr 27 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 166 |
| 1970 | 162 |
| 1971 | 181 |
| 1972 | 171 |
| 1973 | 199 |
| 1974 | 138 |
| 1975 | 187 |
| 1976 | 139 |
| 1977 | 155 |
| 1978 | 157 |
| 1979 | 161 |
| 1980 | 161 |
| 1981 | 143 |
| 1982 | 171 |
| 1984 | 135 |
| 1986 | 174 |
| 1987 | 149 |
| 1988 | 165 |
| 1989 | 139 |
| 1990 | 182 |
| 1991 | 176 |
| 1992 | 162 |
| 1993 | 161 |
| 1994 | 170 |
| 1995 | 161 |
| 1996 | 175 |
| 1997 | 169 |
| 1998 | 199 |
| 1999 | 172 |
| 2000 | 163 |
| 2001 | 170 |
| 2002 | 144 |
| 2003 | 160 |
| 2004 | 172 |
| 2005 | 175 |
| 2006 | 183 |
| 2007 | 199 |
| 2008 | 173 |
| 2009 | 175 |
| 2010 | 195 |
| 2011 | 202 |
| 2012 | 161 |
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 18.9 °C |
| 1970 | 19.5 °C |
| 1971 | 19.1 °C |
| 1972 | 18.7 °C |
| 1973 | 19.1 °C |
| 1974 | 18.5 °C |
| 1975 | 18.6 °C |
| 1976 | 18.5 °C |
| 1977 | 20.3 °C |
| 1978 | 19.6 °C |
| 1979 | 18.7 °C |
| 1980 | 19.8 °C |
| 1981 | 19.0 °C |
| 1982 | 18.4 °C |
| 1983 | 19.2 °C |
| 1984 | 18.6 °C |
| 1986 | 19.4 °C |
| 1987 | 19.9 °C |
| 1988 | 20.3 °C |
| 1989 | 17.8 °C |
| 1990 | 18.4 °C |
| 1991 | 20.6 °C |
| 1992 | 17.2 °C |
| 1993 | 18.3 °C |
| 1994 | 18.8 °C |
| 1995 | 19.2 °C |
| 1996 | 17.7 °C |
| 1997 | 17.2 °C |
| 1998 | 19.9 °C |
| 1999 | 19.2 °C |
| 2000 | 18.4 °C |
| 2001 | 18.9 °C |
| 2002 | 18.7 °C |
| 2003 | 17.9 °C |
| 2004 | 18.4 °C |
| 2005 | 19.7 °C |
| 2006 | 18.8 °C |
| 2007 | 19.3 °C |
| 2008 | 18.4 °C |
| 2009 | 17.6 °C |
| 2010 | 20.7 °C |
| 2011 | 19.4 °C |
| 2012 | 20.5 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1969, Chatsworth's last spring frost has come about 4 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 4 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Piper City (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.