Minooka, IL planting zone & frost dates
Minooka is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 26, for a growing season of about 191 days.
Planting calendar for Minooka
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 16) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19 – Mar 5 Transplant outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Apr 30 – May 7 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Apr 30 – May 7 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 5 – Feb 19 Transplant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 5 – Mar 19 Transplant outdoors: Apr 23 – Apr 30 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 31 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 26).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 3 | Apr 16 | May 3 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 8 | Oct 26 | Oct 13 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 3, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 13. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 5.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Minooka
- 60447 zone 5b
Nearby cities
- Channahon zone 5b, last frost Apr 16
- Shorewood zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Plainfield zone 5b, last frost Apr 20
- Morris zone 5b, last frost Apr 20
- Crest Hill zone 6a, last frost Apr 20
- Joliet zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Lockport zone 6a, last frost Apr 20
- Oswego zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
Questions
What growing zone is Minooka, IL?
Minooka is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average extreme winter low -15°F to -10°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Minooka?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Minooka is April 16. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 3.
When can I plant tomatoes in Minooka?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 23 – Apr 30. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Channahon Dresden Isl Dam, IL (USC00111420), 6.6 km (4.1 mi) from the city center, elevation 154 m, based on 16 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.