Gardening in Illinois - What to Plant in Spring & Fall

Having a productive garden in Illinois is easy to accomplish so long as you have the right plan. Below we’ll walk you through which plants thrive in Illinois, when to plant in Illinois, and how to adapt your garden as the seasons change.

Understanding Illinois Hardiness Zones

Hardiness zones, sometimes referred to as “growing zones” or “planting zones”, were created by the USDA to help gardeners determine which plants are best suited for a particular location.

Illinois encompasses 3 hardiness zones. They are zones 5, 6 and 7. Before we get started, determine which zone you live in by visiting this interactive USDA hardiness zone map.

At their core, hardiness zones only represent how cold a particular area gets in winter. This information, combined with the average frost dates for your area, is the key to planting the right herbs and vegetables in Illinois.

Below, we’ll guide you through the best crops to grow in your zone in Illinois and when to plant them.

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Spring Gardening in Illinois

Zones 6 and 7

During the spring in Illinois zones 6 and 7, try planting short season produce in March that prefer cold weather, such as onions, carrots, and kale.

These crops will feel much more comfortable in the moderate temperatures of spring, as opposed to the intensity of an Illinois summer. And their short growing period means once temperatures begin to rise, they’ll be ready to harvest and replaced with plants more adapt to the Illinois heat.

Classic home garden produce, such as jalapenos, bell peppers, cucamelons, and habanero peppers are great options for mid-to-late spring planting.

For warm weather crops such as these, start seedlings indoors in March. In April and May, once temperatures at night are consistently above 50 degrees, transplant established plants to the garden.

Zone 5

In Illinois growing zone 5, spring is considerably cold compared to most other areas. As a result, the viable growing season in these locations is fairly short.

To get the most out of your garden in Illinois zone 5, seedlings should to be started indoors. We also recommend using a blanket of straw to help protect transplants from a surprise frost.

With so much of the growing season experiencing cooler temperatures, focusing on frost tolerant crops is a great strategy for success. Vegetables such as collard greens, iceberg lettuce, broccolini, and radishes can usually be planted in late April or May for zone 5. Cool weather crops that have a bit longer growing period, such as Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and artichokes, are another great option for the colder areas of Illinois.

But at the end of the day, for most common garden vegetables in Illinois zone 5, planting will have to wait until things warm up in June.

Fall Gardening in Illinois

Zones 6 and 7

Want to keep gardening in Illinois zones 6 and 7 even as the weather cools? You might be surprised by your options!

Fall crops for Illinois zones 6 and 7 are typically planted around July and August. This should give the plant enough time to establish itself before cold weather begins to set in. Think cold-loving crops such as radishes, broccolini, and beets. Hardy root vegetables and durable leafy greens are great options, especially if you’re looking for something to plant in September or early October.

Zone 5

For Illinois growing zone 5, fall gardening is a race against the cold. Likely, you’ll want to plant short season fall crops during July or August, to ensure ample harvest time before the season’s first frost hits.

Cold hardy produce are the most viable fall crops for Illinois growing zone 5. Some of our favorites for Illinois are kale, onions, carrots, and romaine lettuce. Not only can these type of plants withstand a bit of cold, but they’ll be great roasted or thrown in soups and stews during the Illinois winter months.

You can also extend the life of your fall garden in Illinois zone 5 by using methods such as hotbeds, covering plants with a plastic sheet at night, or “overwintering” perennials such as tomatoes and peppers.

Still not sure what to plant in Illinois?

See our full list of growing guides for cold weather vegetables and warm weather vegetables for more inspiration.